Impact of Bioinoculants and Fertilizers Application on Garlic Growth and Yield Performance

Abstract

Bacillus spp. are soil-borne bacteria, associated with plant roots and enhancing soil fertility, nitrogen availability, and act as a biocontrol agent against plant pathogens. When used with chemical fertilizers, they improve nutrient uptake by plants, reducing the excessive application of chemical fertilizer. The current study investigated effects of bioinoculants (Bacillus licheniformis and B. pumilis), combined with varying doses of chemical fertilizers on the growth and yield of the garlic cultivar ‘Solan Selection.’ The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with seven treatments and three replications, incorporating combinations of Bacillus licheniformis and B. pumilis @ 10 ml/plant with 100% and 75% of the recommended doses of nitrogen and phosphorus. It also included individual treatments of B. licheniformis and B. pumilis at 10 ml/plant and the recommended dose of fertilizers. The best growth performance was observed under treatment T₁ (100% recommended dose of N & P + B. licheniformis @ 10 ml/plant), which resulted in the shortest germination time (8.00 days), maximum number of leaves per plant (10.33), and increased moisture and dry matter content of the garlic clove. Also, the treatment T₃ (100% recommended dose of N & P + B. pumilis @ 10 ml/plant) gave the maximum plant height (82.33 cm), highest bulb yield (4.75 kg/plot & 168.88 q/hectare), with maximum net returns of ₹ 15,40,992. The combination of the full RDN & P with B. licheniformis enhanced the growth and yield of garlic, making it the most effective treatment under the mid hill zone of Himachal Pradesh, India.