Standardization of organic cultivation practices on soil NPK status in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) var. Pusa Aushadhi

The present investigation entitled “Standardization of organic cultivation practices on soil NPK status in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) var. Pusa Aushadhi” was carried out during rabi season in the year 2021-2022 at P.G research farm, College of Horticulture, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The experiment was carried out with twenty (20) treatments in Randomized Block Design with three (3) replications i.e. T₁: Farmyard manure (25 t/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha), T₂: Farmyard manure (25 t/ha) + VAM (10 kg/ha), T₃: Farmyard manure (30 t/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha), T₄: Farmyard manure (30 t/ha) + VAM (10 kg/ha), T₅: Vermicompost (10 t/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha), T₆: Vermicompost (10 t/ha) + VAM (10 kg/ha), T₇: Vermicompost (12 t/ha) +AMC (12.5 kg/ha), T₈: Vermicompost (12 t/ha) +VAM (10 kg/ha), T₉: Poultry manure (6 t/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha), T₁₀: Poultry manure (6 t/ha) + VAM (10 kg/ha), T₁₁: Poultry manure (8 t/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha), T₁₂: Poultry manure (8 t/ha) + VAM (10 kg/ha), T₁₃: Neem cake (1 t/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha), T₁₄: Neem cake (1 t/ha) + VAM (10 kg/ha), T₁₅: Neem cake (2 t/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha), T₁₆: Neem cake (2 t/ha) + VAM (10 kg/ha), T₁₇: RDF (40: 80: 50 NPK kg/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha), T₁₈: RDF(40: 80: 50 NPK kg/ha) + VAM (10 kg/ha), T₁₉: RDF (40: 80: 50 NPK kg/ha), T₂₀: Absolute control. Different treatment combinations of RDF and organic manures along with bio fertilizers have a significant influence on soil nutrient status. The results on soil nutrient status showed that among the treatments, T₁₁: Poultry manure (8 t/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha) significantly recorded lowest soil pH after harvest (7.11) and lowest EC after harvest (0.232 dS/m) while, T₃: Farmyard Manure (30 t/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha) recorded the highest organic carbon content after harvest (0.77%). Significantly maximum availability of nitrogen after harvest (251.15 kg/ha), maximum availability of phosphorous after harvest (35.25 kg/ha) and maximum availability of potassium content after harvest (324.56 kg/ha) was recorded by the treatment T₁₇: RDF (40: 80: 50 NPK kg/ha) + AMC (12.5 kg/ha) compared to the other treatments.