Effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on growth and yield of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.)

A field experiment entitled "Effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on growth and yield of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb.)" was conducted at Instructional Farm, Department of Vegetable Science, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during summer season of 2019 - 2020. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and nine treatments viz.T1 (Farm Yard Manure @ 40 t ha-1), T2 (Compost (NADEP) @ 18 t ha-1), T3 (Vermicompost @ 13.5 t ha-1), T4 (Poultry manure @ 6.6 t ha-1) and T5 (Farm Yard Manure @ 40 t ha-1 + Soil application of Azotobacter+ PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 each), T6 (Compost (NADEP) @18 t ha-1 + Soil application of Azotobacter+ PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 each), T7 (Vermicompost @ 13.5 t ha-1 + Soil application of Azotobacter+ PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 each), T8 (Poultry manure @ 6.6 t ha-1 + Soil application of Azotobacter+ PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 each), T9 Control (RDF- 200:100:100 NPK Kg/ha). The various observations in respect of vine growth and yield of watermelon were recorded periodically. From the present findings, it was observed that the growth parameters in respect length of main vine, number of leaves, number of primary branches, chlorophyll index, days for first female flower appearance, internodal distance and male female ratio were found better with Vermicompost @ 13.5 t ha-1+ soil application of Azotobacter +PSB @ 5kg ha-1 each. Yield parameters viz days required for edible maturity, number of fruits per vine, average fruit weight kg, fruit yield kg per vine and fruit yield per ha-1 (tons) were found to be maximum with Vermicompost @ 13.5 t ha-1+ soil application of Azotobacter +PSB @ 5kg ha-1 each.