EFFECT OF AZOTOBACTER AND PHOSPHATE SOLUBILIZING BACTERIA ON YIELD AND QUALITY PARAMETERS OF WATERMELON

Abstract

In the present study, eight Azotobacter and six phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) isolates were isolated rhizosphere soils of Watermelon from different parts of Kolhapur District and efficient isolate of Azotobacter and PSB were tested in field condition. From experimental data it was found that, the treatment comprising, 100% RDF + efficient isolate of Azotobacter + efficient isolate of PSB showed the highest average length of fruit (26.77 cm), highest average fruit weight (2.40 kg), highest number of fruits per plant (2.24), minimum days required for first harvest of fruit of watermelon (76.97 days), minimum days for total harvest of fruit of watermelon (91.12 days), highest yield of fruits per plant (5.37 kg/plant), highest average yield of fruit per ha (53.66 t/ha) and highest available N (332.00 Kg/ha), P (33.56 Kg/ha) and K (309.74 Kg/ha) in soil after harvest as compared to the rest of the treatments. Similar trend of result was observed in case of quality parameter, i.e. high percent of TSS (10.300 Brix) as compared to other treatments.