Study of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Quality Parameters of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. Pusa Desi

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2025-2026 at the Horticulture Experimental Field, Department of Horticulture, School of Advanced Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the effects of organic and inorganic nutrient sources on growth, yield and quality attributes of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. Pusa Desi. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design with ten treatments and three replications. The treatments included the recommended dose of inorganic fertilisers, organic nitrogen sources through farmyard manure, vermicompost and plant-based compost, and their combinations with phosphate-solubilising bacteria. Integrated nutrient application improved most growth and yield traits compared with sole organic nutrient sources. Among the treatments, T6, consisting of 75% NPK + 25% nitrogen through vermicompost + phosphate-solubilising bacteria at 25 ml/kg, recorded the highest plant height (34.91 cm), leaf length (32.25 cm), number of leaves per plant (15.11), shoot dry weight (16.13 g), shoot fresh weight (213.58 g), root length (24.42 cm), root diameter (3.77 cm), average root weight (113.19 g) and root yield (285.29 q/ha). Quality attributes varied among treatments. T7, consisting of 75% NPK + 25% nitrogen through plant-based compost + phosphate-solubilising bacteria at 25 ml/kg, recorded the highest total soluble solids (5.33 °Brix) and ascorbic acid content (15.58 mg/100 g). The findings indicate that integrated use of inorganic fertilisers, organic nutrient sources and phosphate-solubilising bacteria can improve radish growth, yield and selected quality parameters under the agro-climatic conditions of Kanpur.