Abstract

The experiment was carried out at Horticulture Research Station, Mondouri, BCKV, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal during the years 2011–12 and 2012–13. The cloves were planted during middle of the October in 2.0 x 1.5 m plot at 20 x 15 cm spacing with three replications. Two nitrogen fixing biofertilizers (Azospirillum lipoferum and Azotobacter chrococcum) and two phosphatic biofertilizers [vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza (Glomus fasciculatum) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus polymixa)] and one potassic solubilizer (Fraturia aurantea) were included. Biofertilizers were applied @ 6 g per plot with 250 g well rotten farm yard manure. Three levels of recommended dose of NPK i. e. 100, 75 and 50% were included. Two-way combinations of both nitrogenous and phosphatic biofertilizers were followed with each level of inorganic fertilizers which results in 12 treatment combinations having potassic solubilizer common to all treatments. Full dose of recommended fertilizer was applied alone i. e. altogether 13 treatments. The maximum plant height (75.42 cm) and longest root (7.92 cm) were observed in NPK (100%)+Azotobacter+PSB+KS. The maximum leaf number (11.45), number of roots (98.46), bulb weight (29.16 g), plot yield (2.85 kg/3 m2) and projected yield (7.12 t/ha) were noticed in NPK (100%)+Azospirillum+PSB+KS. The next best treatment in respect of projected yield was NPK (100%)+Azotobacter+PSB+KS (6.64 t/ha) followed by NPK (75%)+ Azospirillum+PSB+KS (6.28 t/ha). The results also indicated the chance of reduction of 25% of inorganic fertilizer through inoculations of biofertilizers.