Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is the second most important

bulb crop after onion belonging to family Alliaceae.

In India, garlic growing area is 166.2 thousand hectare

with a production of 831.10 thousand MT. In Gujarat, garlic is

grown on 30.19 thousand hectare area with production of

149.50 thousand MT (Anonymous, 2009). It is used practically

all over the world for flavouring and seasoning various

vegetables and meat dishes. It is rich in proteins, minerals like

phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and carbohydrates. It also

contains fat, vitamin C and sulphur. It is already being used in

several food preparations, notably in chutneys, pickles, curry

powders, curried vegetables, meat preparations, tomato

ketchup. The successful commercial cultivation of this crop

is depend on many factors such as climate, soil fertility,

irrigation, fertilizer, spacing and season of growing etc. Among

the different management practices like nutrient management

Members of the Research Forum

Associate Author :1Department of Horticulture, B.A.

College of Agriculture, Anand

Agricultural University, ANAND

(GUJARAT) INDIA

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE

plays an important role for good growth, yield and quality.

Application of all needed nutrients through chemical fertilizers

are known to have deleterious effect on soil fertility leading to

unsustainable yields, while integration of chemical fertilizers

with organic manures and biofertilizers are able to maintain

the soil health, productivity and fertility (Jeyabal et al., 2000).

The role of farm yard manure in enhancing efficient use of

chemical fertilizers is well documented. Organically grown food

is expected to fetch higher price and this can offset any loss

due to lower yields. To use of biofertilizers to increase

agricultural productivity especially in vegetable crops.

Different strain of Azotobacter responded differently to garlic

growth and yield. The phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB)

acts as increasing the plant growth. The PSB release more P

from sparingly soluble phosphorus which effect on growth

and yield of garlic. The FYM, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium

Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield

and quality of garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. GUJARAT

GARLIC-3

S.A. BHANDARI1, K.S. PATEL1 AND D.S. NEHETE

THE ASIAN JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE

Article history :

Received : 18.11.2011

Revised : 30.01.2012

Accepted : 17.03.2012

Research Paper

Author for correspondence :

D.S. NEHETE

Department of Horticulture, B.A.

College of Agriculture, Anand

Agricultural University, ANAND

(GUJARAT) INDIA

Email : nehetedhiraj@gmail.com

Volume 7 | Issue 1 | June, 2012 | 48-51

Abstract : The present investigation was conducted at the Horticultural Research Farm, Department of

Horticulture, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, during the Rabi season

2009-2010. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with twelve treatments and

replicated three times. The result indicated that the maximum plant height (59.67 cm), number of leaves

per plant (8.96 nos.) and diameter of stem (1.52 cm) was recorded with the application of 100-40-60

NPK kg/ha + 100 kg N/ha through C.C. + Azotobacter + PSB (T9). The maximum length of bulb (4.50

cm), diameter of bulb (5.34 cm), number of cloves per bulb (19.33), average weight of bulb (36.94 g),

yield of bulb (124.56 q/ha), moisture content of bulb (61.77 %), Total soluble solids (45.05 oBrix) and

sulphur content (0.94 %) was recorded with the treatment 100-40-60 NPK kg/ha + 100 kg N/ha through

C.C. + Azotobacter + PSB (T9). In the grade wise weight, the grade A was found significantly higher in

(T9) 100-40-60 NPK kg/ha + 100 kg N/ha through C.C. + Azotobacter + PSB, while in treatment 50-40-

60 NPK kg/ha + 50 kg N/ha through C.C. + Azotobacter+PSB (T7), recorded significantly higher in grade

B and grade C.

Key words : Castor cake, Biofertilizers, FYM, Growth, Yield, Quality, Garlic

How to cite this article : Bhandari, S.A., Patel, K.S. and Nehete, D.S. (2012). Effect of integrated nutrient

management on growth, yield and quality of garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. GUJARAT GARLIC-3, Asian J.

Hort., 7(1) : 48-51.

Hind Agricultural Research and Training InstituteAsian J. Hort., 7(1) June, 2012 : 49

and its usefulness combination and comparision with

biofertilizers increased yield. In view of this background, the

present investigation to find out suitable nutrient management

in garlic was undertaken.

RESEARCH METHODS

The present investigation was conducted at the

Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B.A.

College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand,

during the Rabi season 2009-2010. The cloves were separated

from the healthy bulbs and planted at a spacing of 20 x 15 cm

in an upright position on the 7th November, 2009. The

experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with

twelve treatments and replicated three times. Azotobacter and

PSB were applied 5 ml/kg seed. Treatments comprised of

combinations T1-100-80-60 NPK kg/ha (RDF), T

2-150-80-60

NPK kg/ha, T3-200-80-60 NPK kg/ha, T

4-50-80-60 NPK kg/ha +

50 kg N/ha through C.C., T5-75-80-60 NPK kg/ha + 75 kg N/ha

through C.C., T6-100-80-60 NPK kg/ha + 100 kg N/ha through

C.C., T7-50-40-60 NPK kg/ha + 50 kg N/ha through C.C. +

Azotobacter+PSB, T8-75-40-60 NPK kg/ha + 75 kg N/ha

through C.C. + Azotobacter+PSB, T9-100-40-60 NPK kg/ha +

100 kg N/ha through C.C. + Azotobacter+PSB, T10

-50 kg N/ha

through FYM + 50 kg N/ha through C.C. + Azotobacter +

PSB, T11

-75 kg N/ha through FYM + 75 kg N/ha through C.C.

+ Azotobacter +PSB and T12

-100 kg N/ha through FYM + 100

kg N/ha through C. C. + Azotobacter + PSB. The statistical

analysis was carried out as per the methods suggested by

Panse and Sukhatme (1967). The experimental plants were

managed with uniform cultural practices as per the standard

recommendations with respect to irrigation, plant protection

measures etc.

RESEARCH FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

In Table 1 the highest of plant height (59.67 cm) at 75

DAP, number of leaves per plant (8.96) at 75 DAP, highest

diameter of stem 1.52 cm at 75 DAP, length of bulb 4.50 cm and

diameter of bulb 5.34 cm were observed in the treatment (T9)

100-40-60 NPK kg/ha + 100 kg N/ha through C.C. + Azotobacter

+ PSB than all other treatments. The increasing in plant height

may be due to enhanced availability of nutrients and

production of promoting substances that might have caused

cell elongation and multiplication. Number of leaves be

attributed to the solubilization effect of plant nutrients by

addition of farm yard manure on native and applied plant

nutrients as well as chelating effect on metal ions leading to

higher subsequent uptake of NPK by plant. The increase in

diameter of stem may be due to enhanced availability of

nutrients and production of promoting substances that might

have caused cell elongation and multiplication. Increased

vegetative growth, dry matter production and translocation

of photosynthates might have resulted in increased length of

S.A. BHANDARI, K.S. PATEL AND D.S. NEHETE

48-51

Hind Agricultural Research and Training InstituteAsian J. Hort., 7(1) June, 2012 : 50

bulbs. The size of bulb was directly influenced by the

enhanced vegetative growth on the plants and resulted in

increase in height, and number of green leaves. This might

have accumulated more carbohydrates, resulting in to

increased diameter of the bulb, which is the storage organ.

The results obtained in the present study are supported by

the findings Wange (1995) and Suresh (1997) in garlic

Waghachavare (2004) in onion.

Highest number of cloves per bulb (19.33), maximum

average weight of bulb (36.94 g), maximum yield (124.56 q/ha),

moisture content (61.77 %), T.S.S. (45.05 ºBrix) and sulphur

content (0.94 %) were found in treatment T9 (100-40-60 NPK

kg/ha + 100 kg N/ha through C.C. + Azotobacter + PSB) (Table

2). The results presented in respect of grade wise bulb weight,

treatment T9 100-40-60 NPK kg/ha + 100 kg N/ha through C.C.

+ Azotobacter + PSB, recorded significantly the higher grade

A weight 77.14 q/ha in grade yield. In grade B and grade C, the

treatment T7 50-40-60 NPK kg/ha + 50 kg N/ha through C.C. +

Azotobacter + PSB, recorded significantly the higher grade

wise weight (40.73 q/ha) and (24.80 q/ha), respectively.

The phosphorus with nitrogen enhanced root initiation

and its development that inmproves better utilization of

moisture and food material and translocation of these food

material during the bulbs formation and development resulted

as more cloves per bulb. Efficient translocation of

photosynthates to bulbs thereby increasing bulb size and

hence increase in dry matter accumulation of bulbs. The

increase in yield with application of integrated nutrient

approach might be attributed to increased growth of plants in

respect of height of plant and number of leaves. The healthy

top growth might be responsible for higher rate of

photosynthesis and accumulated carbohydrates which

resulted increased size of bulbs as indicated by diameter and

average bulb weight and ultimate resulted in higher yield.

Thus integrated effect of the nutrients as discussed under

growth parameters might have definitely been responsible for

increase in yield. The superiority of the dual application of

phosphorous and bacterial inoculation may be due to the

promoting effects of the microorganisms of the inoculants on

the native and applied nutrients. As well as may be due to the

important role of phosphorus for helping the development of

more extensive root system and thus enabling plants to extract

water and nutrients from deeper depth. This, in turn, could

enhance the plants to produce more assimilates which was

reflected in high moisture and its component. Organic manures

are capable of supplying adequate macro and micro plant

nutrients which play major role in quality improvement through

desirable enzymatic changes taking place during growth.

Response of farm yard manure in improving soil nutrition is

well established fact and combined use of inorganic fertilizer

with farm yard manure and further enhanced the effect on

quality and increase in the application of single super

phosphate and inoculation with phosphate solubilizing

EFFECT OF INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON GROWTH, YIELD & QUALITY OF GARLIC

48-51

Hind Agricultural Research and Training InstituteAsian J. Hort., 7(1) June, 2012 : 51

bacteria, which has resulted in increased uptake of sulphur

and its accumulation in bulbs. Similar results were reported

by Hari Om et al. (1978), Nelson (1983) and Suresh (1997) in

garlic and Lal et al. (2002), Sharma et al. (2003) and

Waghachavare (2004) in onion.

REFERENCES

Anonymous (2009). Indian Horticulture Database.

Hari, Om, Srivastava, R.P. and Tewari, D.N. (1978). Effect of

nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium fertilization on growth and

yield of garlic. Indian J. Hort., 34 (4) : 564-565.

Jeyabal, A., Palaniappan, S. P and Chelliah, S.(2000).Effect of

integrated nutrient management techniques on yield attributes and

yield of sunflower(Helianthus annuus). Indian J. Agron., 45 (2) :

384-388.

Lal, S., Yadav, A.C., Mangal, J.L., Singh, A. and Batra, V. K. (2002).

Effect of FYM and irrigation levels on growth and yield of onion cv.

HISAR -2, Haryana J. Hort. Sci., 31 (3&4) : 256-258.

Nelson, M. (1983). Garlic fertilizer trial. Newzealand Commercial

Grower, 38 (2) : 28.

Panse, V.G. and Sukhatme, P.V. (1967). Statistical method for

agricultural workers. Pub. ICAR, New Delhi.

Sharma, R.P., Datt, N. and Sharma, P. (2003). Combined application

of nitrogen ,phosphorus and farm yard manure in onion (Alliuium

cepa L.) under high hills, dry temperat condition of North–Western

Himalyas. Indian J. agric. Sci.,73 (4):225-227.

Suresh, M.J. (1997). Growth, yield and quality of garlic (Alluium

sativum L) as influenced by spacing and manures. M.Sc. (Ag.)

Thesis,University of Agricultural Science, DHARWAD,

KARNATAKA (India).

Waghachavare, D. D. (2004). Effect of integrated nutrient

management on growth, yield and quality of onion cv. PHULE SUVARNA.

M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis, Marathwada Agricultural University,

PARBHANI, M.S. (India).

Wange, S.S. (1995). Response of garlic to combined application of

biofertilizers and fertilizers. J. Soil & Crops, 5 : 115-116

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