Liquid microbial consortia with graded level of inorganic fertilizers for leaf biomass and leaf quality attributes in moringa

Abstract: Moringa oleifera, a tropical vegetable crop of India, has gained importance for its nutrient-rich leaf production. A study was conducted at the Department of Vegetable Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Periyakulam, to increase leaf biomass productivity and quality attributes of moringa leaves using liquid microbial inoculum. Microbial inoculum included Azospirillum, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, potassium solubilizing bacteria and pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs along with graded level of inorganic water soluble fertilizer. The annual moringa var. PKM -1 seeds were sown at a spacing of 40 x 20 cm on well prepared raised beds. Among the different treatments, combinations, tested moringa plants that received RDF 125 % of the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers (337.5: 56.25: 112.5 kg NPK ha^-1) along with a liquid form of bio inoculants viz., Azospirillum, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, potassium solubilizing bacteria @ 500 mL each ha^-1 through drip system and foliar application of pink pigmented facultative methylotrophs @ 500 mL ha^-1 produced higher biomass yield. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, crude protein, crude fiber, and total carbohydrates were found to be higher in the same treatment group.