Impact of bioinoculants and fertilizers application on growth and yield performance of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Abstract

Bacillus spp. are soil-borne bacteria associated with plant roots, enhancing soil fertility, nitrogen availability, nutrient uptake by plants, and thus reducing the excessive application of chemical fertilizers. This study investigated the impact of bioinoculants (Bacillus licheniformis and B. pumilus), 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 B. licheniformis and B. pumilus @ 10 mL/plant with 100 and 75% of the recommended doses of nitrogen and phosphorus, individual treatments of B. licheniformis and B. pumilus at 10 mL/plant and the recommended dose of fertilizers. The best growth was observed under treatment T1 (100% recommended dose of N & P + B. licheniformis @ 10 mL/plant) with the shortest germination time, maximum number of leaves/plant, and quality parameters. Whereas the optimum yield traits viz., fresh weight of bulb, number of cloves/bulbs, bulb yield/plot etc. were observed in treatment T3 (100% recommended dose of N & P + B. pumilus @ 10 mL/plant). The combinations of 100% RDN & P with B. licheniformis and B. pumilus enhanced the growth, yield and quality of garlic under the mid hill zone of Himachal Pradesh, India.