ABSTRACT
Organic farming is an age-old concept, but during the last two decades, it has attracted worldwide attention. Balanced and efficient use of plant nutrients is essential for realizing the full potential of garden pea. The present 230investigation was carried out by evaluating 12 treatment combinations comprising four levels of composts, viz., E3-3% enriched compost, E2-2% enriched compost, E1-1% enriched compost, and E0-control (ordinary vermicompost) and three levels of bio-inoculations, viz., I2-inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB + Trichoderma, I1-inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB, and I0-control (no inoculation) in factorial RBD with three replications in garden pea (variety-Punjab-89) at the Model Organic Farm, Department of Organic Agriculture, CSK HPKV, Palampur during nabi 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. Addition of different mineral substrates like oilseed cake for N enrichment, rock phosphate for P enrichment, and Patent Kali especially for K enrichment along with fortification with different types of bio-inoculants like Rhizobium, PSB, and Trichoderma in composts significantly improved yield, net profit, and B-C ratio under organic farming conditions. In the present investigation, the treatment combination E2I2, i.e., 2% enriched compost @ 10t/ha along with bio-inoculation with Rhizobium + PSB + Trichoderma was found to be the most promising treatment combination which gave the maximum and significantly higher values for nitrogenase enzymes, dry matter, average pod weight, number of grains/pod, and pod yield/ha. E2I2 also exhibited the maximum plant height, number of pods per plant, pod length and shelling percentage but was statistically at par with other treatment combinations, viz., E3I1, E1I2, E3I2, E2I0, E3I0, and E1I1 for plant height, E3I2, E3I1, E2I1, and E1I2 for number of pods per plant, E3I0 for pod length, and E3I2 and E3I0 for shelling percentage. For nodule weight, total soluble solids and protein percentage, E2I2 was also found statistically at par with the highest treatment combinations. For these three traits, E3I1, E0I2, and E1I2 revealed the maximum values, respectively. The treatment combinations were statistically at par with E1I2 for nodule weight and total soluble solids, E2I1 for nodule weight, E3I2 for total soluble solids, and E3I1 for protein percentage.
