Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the Horticultural Research Station, Mondouri, BCKV, West Bengal during 2013–14 and 2014–15. In both the years, cloves of garlic cv. Katki were planted during 1st week of November in 2.0 x 1.5 m plots, at 20 x15 cm spacing accommodating 100 plants per plot. The experiment was laid in RBD with three replications. Four biofertilizers, namely, Azospirillum brasilense, Azotobacter chrococcum, vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizae (Glomus fasciculatum) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus polymixa) were applied @ 6 g per plot each with 250 g well rotten FYM. Different combinations of nitrogenous and phosphatic biofertilizers along with three levels i. e. 100, 75 and 50% of recommended dose of nitrogen and phosphate were included in the experiment. There were altogether 13 treatments including control. NPK dose was 150: 125: 150 kg/ha. Maximum plant height (74.32 cm), leaf number (11.86), bulb weight (26.34 g), plot yield (2.76 kg/3 m2) and projected yield (6.92 t/ha) were recorded with NP (100%)+Azospirillum+VAM. The next best treatment in respect of yield was NP (100%)+Azotobacter+VAM (6.71 t/ha) followed by NP (75%)+Azospirillum+VAM (6.37 t/ha). The maximum number of cloves (28.25), neck thickness (1.06 cm) and length of both long clove (2.93 cm) and medium clove (1.96 cm) were noticed with NP (100%)+Azotobacter+VAM. From yield maximization point of view, the most effective treatment was NP (100%)+Azospirillum+VAM followed by NP (100%)+Azotobacter+VAM under alluvial plains of West Bengal for garlic production.