Influence of micronutrients on growth and yield of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) in rainfed vertisols

Coriander crop is grown as a rainfed rabi crop in vertisols of Andhra Pradesh. The cropgenerally suffers from periods of moisture stress from the flowering to maturity stagedepending on precipitation during November and December months. During these stressperiods, the crop shows deficiency symptoms of micronutrients such as Copper, Manganese,Zinc and Iron. The foliar application of ZnSO4 0.5%, FeSO4 0.5% and combination of ZnSO4+ FeSO4 + CuSO4 + MnSO4 all at 0.5%, had significant positive influence on all growthparameters and yield of Coriander crop. Among the treatments, ZnSO4 + FeSO4 + CuSO4 +MnSO4 all at 0.5% recorded maximum plant height, number of primary branches andsecondary branches, umbels per plant and umbellets per umbel, which are significantlysuperior to control. Crop maturity differed significantly among the treatments though thedifference between the maximum and minimum days was only 3.3 days. The treatments, ZnSO4 + Fe SO4 + Cu SO4 + Mn SO4  all at 0.5%, recorded significantly highest yield (940 kg/ha)followed by Fe SO4 0.5 % (927 kg/ha) and Zn SO4 0.5 % (922 kg/ha) which are on par witheach other and significantly superior over control (801 kg/ha). &nbsp

Efficacy of biofertilizers on the performance of rainfed coriander (Coriandrum sativum) in vertisols

Biofertilizers are cheap, eco-friendly, improve soil fertility and plant nutrition within shorttime, and are effective components in organic farming. The present study was undertakenwith nine treatment combinations containing Azospirillum Sp., Azatobactor sp. and PSB andcombination of Azospirillum and PSB, Azatobactor and PSB, Vermicompost, Trichoderma viride,100 % inorganic Nitrogen and control in RBD with three replications. Inoculation ofmicroorganisms and FYM @ 5 t/ha applied along with recommended dose of inorganicNitrogen @ 100 % N had shown significant influence on growth parameters when comparedwith absolute control. However, the influence of microorganisms is significant only on numberof secondary branches and number of umbels per plant when compared to 100% N.  Plantheight, number of primary and secondary branches were significantly more in treatmentwith 100 % N in combination with Azospirillum, PSB and FYM  @ 5 t/ha (66.4 cm, 6.2 and 15.4respectively) than control (58.3 cm, 4.4 and 8.7 respectively). Among all the treatmentcombinations, 100 % N in combination with Azospirillum, PSB and FYM @ 5 t/ha recordedhighest seed yield (1004.0 kg/ha) which is significantly superior to 100% N alone (877.7 kg/ha). In addition to the increase yield, the treatment recorded an incremental Benefit CostRatio of 1.63. The increase in yield in treatments with Azospirillum, PSB and FYM along with100% RDF may be due to better uptake of Nitrogen  and Phosphorous and enhanced foodaccumulation. &nbsp