Abstract
A field study with organic manures, inorganic manures and biofertilizers alone and in combination was carried out on 11-year-old mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Himsagar spaced 10 m apart in a randomized block design at the University Research Station, Gayeshpur, BCKV, West Bengal, India. The objective was to determine their effect on growth, soil characters, and fruit quality of mango grown in a new alluvial zone of West Bengal. Respiration, physiological loss in weight (PLW) and shelf life at ambient room temperatures, and soil characters were also assessed. Results revealed that among the eight treatments, biofertiliser (Azotobacter + PSM) along with 50% inorganic fertilizer significantly increased the growth characters of mango trees. This treatment also increased the physico-chemical character of fruit while biofertilizers alone improved the fruit quality, viz. total soluble solids, total sugar and β-carotene. Fruits treated with biofertilizers also had increased shelf life with lower PLW and respiration rate. Soil microbial population and other soil characters were improved by application of biofertilizer as well. It is concluded that biofertilizer application in mango gives better growth, fruit quality, and soil health.
