Bio-inoculants could enhance growth, yield, quality and reduce disease incidence in cabbage

Abstract

Beneficial microbes are essential to sustainable agricultural production because they help meet population need for food, preserve the environment, and ensure excellent yields at reasonable prices. This experiment focused on the effects of bio-inoculants and fungicides on growth, yield, quality and disease incidence in cabbage grown in the Gangetic plains of West Bengal. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated thrice with seven treatment combinations comprising different bio-inoculants [Trichoderma asperellum (IIVR strain); Trichoderma (TTV-2-IIVR strain); Bacillus subtilis (CRB-7-IIVR strain); Actinomyces sp. (IIVR N-1.2strain)] either sole or dual application compared with fungicide application and control. The findings showed that compared to other treatment combinations, cabbage responded better to the dual inoculation of T. asperellum (IIVR strain) + B. subtilis (CRB-7). The study also showed that the head yield of the crop, as well as its nutritional value, disease control, and the economic return on its cultivation, were influenced by the dual inoculation with T. asperellum (IIVR strain) + B. subtilis (CRB-7) @ 10 g/kg of seedling and soil drenching with the same bio-inoculant combinations @1% in the root zone at 30 days after transplanting adopted for cabbage production in the Gangetic plains of eastern India.