Soil Amendment and Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield, Soil Health, and Economics of Bottle Gourd

Abstract

ABSTRACTBottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standl.] productivity may be increased using integrated nutrient management, which may improve physical and biological soil properties. A field experiment was conducted in India during the summer months of January to April in 2009 and 2010 to evaluate effects of integrated nutrient management on bottle gourd growth, yield, and profitability, and on the physical properties of the soil. Integrated nutrient management used the organic amendments neemcake, cow manure, vermicompost, and poultry manure with or without inorganic N-P-K (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) fertilizer. Integrated nutrient management can provide sufficient nutrients to maximize bottle gourd productivity compared to the standard N-P-K fertilizer control. Integrated application of cow manure at 10 Mt·ha−1 + half the recommended rate of N-P-K fertilizer (N:P2O5:K2O; 25:30:25 kg.ha−1) was at least as good as the control (recommended rate of N-P-K fertilizer) since it had similar fruit yield, fruit length, fruit diameter, node producing the first female flower, days to first harvest, number of branches per plant, and water use efficiency. Average individual fruit weight, gross and net incomes, and benefit:cost ratio were highest for the recommended rate of N-P-K fertilizer followed by CM at 10 Mt·ha−1 + half the recommended N-P-K. Since excess fertilizer application can detrimentally affect soil health and the surrounding environment, use of integrated nutrient management can improve soil properties without providing a significant reduction in bottle gourd productivity.