A Review on Effect of Bio-fertilizers and Chemical Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality of Dioecious Cucurbits

No vegetable group in India is as diverse as the cucurbits. They are adapted to diverse soil and climate condition and contribute significantly to total vegetable production. Dioecious cucurbits cultivation merge with trellising, staking, mulching, application of biofertilizers and growth regulators hold immense potential and promise for future vegetable production and market in our country. Biofertilizer can be defined as a substance which contains living organisms which, when applied to seed, plant surface, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or interior of the plant, and promote growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant. Biofertilizers are an chief component of integrated nutrient management system for sustainable agriculture and along with chemical fertilizers. Studies suggest that cultivation of dioecious cucurbits along with chemical and organic fertilizers gives immense result on account of yield and productivity. Our country possesses a rich diversity like spine gourd, ivy gourd, bitter gourd, sweet gourd, pointed gourd and has ideal climate and soil to cultivate these cucurbits. Mostly these miner cucurbits are largely grown or wild gathered and sold in the market by small and marginal farmers. Hence promotion of these cucurbits holds key to ensuring livelihood security and income generation for to the tribal’s, marginal and small farmers in remote rural regions. Dioecious cucurbits mainly possess different important chemical compounds which can be used in nutraceuticals industries. These cucurbits has the potential to act as a source of income generation for rural farmers as they have immense market potential. These cucurbits need strong research support for better production and utilization.