Optimizing growth and yield of curry chili in hydroponic systems using Sanjeewani biofertilizer and Albert's solution.

Abstract

When combined with biofertilizers and Albert's Solution, it provides an innovative approach to reduce costs and environmental impact while simultaneously providing a strategy to encourage plant growth and yield. The unidentified growth-promoting factors in biofertilizers lead to improved nutrient uptake and ultimately higher plant yields. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the best ratio of Sanjeewani biofertilizer and Albert’s fertilizer on better growth and yield performance of curry chili grown under hydroponic conditions. The experiment was carried out in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Kamburupitiya from July to October 2023. Vigorously grown 21-day-old curry chili plants were transplanted on open-top grow bags filled with coconut coir dust media. Sanjeewani biofertilizer was prepared by mixing cow dung, cow urine, and rice wash water 1:1:2 ratio. The treatments were T1-Albert’s solution 100%, T2-Albert’s solution 90%+Sanjeewani biofertilizer 10%, T3-Albert’s solution 80%+Sanjeewani biofertilizer 20%, T4-Albert’s solution 70%+Sanjeewani biofertilizer 30% and T5-Albert’s solution 60%+Sanjeewani biofertilizer 40%. The experimental design was Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five replicates. Plant height, internode length and number of leaves/plant were measured at 50% flowering stage and number of pods/plant, pod weight and pod length were recorded at harvesting. The collected data were statistically analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) from SAS 9.1.3 version. Subsequently, differences among treatment means were compared by Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test at the 5% probability level. According to the results, significantly higher plant height (126.2±1.9a cm), number of pods/plant (28±2.5a) and weight of pods (135.1±2.6a g) were recorded from T2 compared to other treatments. A significantly higher number of leaves/plant were obtained from T1 (158±1.7a), T2 (166±0.9a), T3 (145±2.3ab), and T4 (147±2.1ab). Further, length of the pods was significantly higher in T2 (13.3±0.3a cm), T3 (12.7±1.4a cm), T4 (12.9±1.1a), and T5 (12.8±1.1a). There was no significant effect on internodal length. Therefore, the study suggests that Albert’s solution 90% + Sanjeewani biofertilizer 10% (T2) optimizes the growth and yield of curry chili under hydroponic conditions. Further, research could be done to examine the performances of the combination of inorganic fertilizers with biofertilizers under different growing media and environmental conditions.