PEEYUSH SRIVASTAV AND SUCHI GANGWAR
Abstract
The study evaluates the impact of organic and bio-fertilizer applications on plant growth parameters, including plant height (cm), number of tillers per plant, dry matter (g) accumulation, chlorophyll content (%) at 60 days after sowing (DAS). Treatment T9 (20 t vermicompost + 2.5 kg/ha soil application of Biomix-I) demonstrated the most significant improvements across all parameters followed by T7 (50% NPK (RDF) + 10 t vermicompost + 2.5 kg/ha soil application of Biomix-I). Conversely, control treatment (T1) showed the lowest performance highlighting the critical role of nutrient supplementation. The enhanced results in T9 were attributed to improved biological nitrogen fixation and the physiological benefits of vermicompost, including enhanced chlorophyll synthesis and root development. These findings emphasize the potential of integrating organic and bio-fertilizer-based nutrient management strategies to optimize plant growth while maintaining soil health, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural practices.