ORGANIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN FRUIT CROPS: ROLE OF BIO FERTILIZERS, VERMICOMPOST AND LIQUID ORGANIC MANURE- A REVIEW

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the post-independence period, the biggest challenge in India has been to produce enough fruit for the expanding population. Use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers in fruit production without proper research will result in a number of health risks and environmental problems. To save our environment and our crops we have to follow ecofriendly and sustainable fruit production. Minimizing the use of harmful chemicals and fertilizers will reduce the ratio of this type of problems. Changing climate undermines global food security by adversely affecting crop production. Biological agriculture, or organic farming, serves as an alternative to traditional methods that depend heavily on synthetic inputs. Biofertilizers are microbial arrangements containing living cells of various microorganisms which can prepare plant supplements in soil from unusable to usable structure through organic cycle. The utilization of biofertilizers is expanding step by step because of expansion in the cost of compound composts, its advantageous impact on soil well-being and expansion underway of yield. Vermicompost, produced through the non-thermophilic biodegradation of organic waste by earthworms and associated microbes, is a crucial bio-fertilizer that sustainably boosts crop yields and aids in adapting to environmental stresses. Grown worldwide under various climatic conditions, vegetables are exposed to diverse environmental stresses that threaten their yield and quality. Applying vermicompost to soil lowers its pH, improves porosity and water retention capacity, enhances microbial activity, and overall soil health. These improvements lead to better germination, growth, development, and yield of vegetable crops. Furthermore, vermicompost protects plants from oxidative stress caused by various abiotic factors by bolstering the antioxidative defense system. Liquid organic manure consist higher number of beneficial microorganisms, mainly due to their ingredients such as: cow dung, cow urine etc. It also contains essential macro and micro nutrients, vitamins, amino acids and growth promoters like auxin, gibberelins. Natural farming is one the solution for this generation to reduce all the hazards. Liquid organic manure are known to increase germination percentage seedling vigour, emergence, plant stand, root and shoot growth, total biomass of the plant, seed weight, early flowering, fruit yield and quality etc.