Influence of organic and inorganic nutrients on large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) under Darjeeling sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal Influence of organic and inorganic nutrients on large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) under Darjeeling sub-Himalayan region of West Bengal

Abstract

A field experiment with 7 treatments was
carried out during 2012-13 and 2013-14 at Sub-
Himalayan region of Darjeeling district of West
Bengal to find out the most appropriate nutrient
management option for large cardamom
(Amomum subulatum Roxb). Significantly
maximum plant height (2.47 m), number of
tillers/clump (12.4), number of spikes/clump
(33.2), average spike length (63.6 cm) and number
of capsules/clump (494.9) were found with
application of 50% recommended dose of
fertilizers + farmyard manure7.5 tonnes/ha +
vermicompost 2.5 tonnes/ha + Azospirillum(10
g/clump) + phosphorus solubilising bacteria(10
g/clump). This treatment (T6) also recorded
significantly highest dry capsules yield (425.8 kg/ha) followed by T4, T3 and T2 treatments,
whereas, lowest yield was found in farmers’
practice (213.5 kg/ha). Comparatively, superior
treatment i.e. application of 50% recommended
dose of fertilizers + farmyard manure7.5
tonnes/ha + vermicompost 2.5 tonnes/ha +
Azospirillum(10 g/clump) + phosphorus
solubilising bacteria(10 g/clump)recorded about
99.4 percent and 37.6 percent higher dry capsule
yield as compared to farmers’ practice and
recommended dose of fertilizers (T2), respectively.
In economic point of view, this treatment
combination (T6) registered B:C ratio of 4.95,
which owing to higher input cost of vermicompost
and farmyard manure, was 2.71 percent lower
than recommended dose of fertilizers (5.09).
Application of vermicompost and farmyard
manure as well as bio-fertilizers had favorable
impact on various soil properties viz. bulk density,
organic carbon, available N and available P status
of surface soil.