Effect of biofertilizers combined with varying levels of NPK fertilizers on growth, yield, and quality of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) under subtropical conditions
A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season (November 2024–March 2025) at the Research Farm, RSM PG College, Dhampur, Uttar Pradesh, India (latitude 29.3°N), under subtropical agro-climatic conditions. The study evaluated the effect of biofertilizer inoculation combined with the recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (100:60:40 kg N: P?O?:K?O ha-1) and its reduced levels (75% and 50%) on the growth, yield, and quality of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.). Farmyard manure (FYM @ 10 t ha-1) was applied uniformly to all plots as a baseline organic input. The experiment followed a Randomized Block Design with 18 treatment combinations and three replications. The combination of 100% NPK with vermicompost and mycorrhiza (T18) produced the highest plant height (12.37 cm at 90 DAS), superior leaf dimensions, and the highest total soluble solids (10.9 °Brix), representing improvements of approximately 54.6% and 49.3% over the FYM-baseline treatment (T1), respectively. The highest root yield in this experiment (24.95 t ha-1) was recorded in T16 (75% NPK + Azospirillum + Pseudomonas fluorescens), which was 23.8% higher than T1, indicating enhanced nutrient-use efficiency at reduced inorganic fertilizer levels. The study objectives were: (I) to evaluate the growth, yield, and quality response of beetroot to biofertilizer inoculation; (II) to assess whether biofertilizers can sustain productivity under reduced inorganic fertilizer levels; and (III) to identify the most effective treatment combination for sustainable beetroot cultivation under subtropical conditions. Further validation through factorial designs and multi-location trials is recommended.
Saini H, Pal SL, Kumar T, Saini D, Singh M, Saini S, Amit A. Effect of biofertilizers combined with varying levels of NPK fertilizers on growth, yield, and quality of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) under subtropical conditions. J Appl Biol Biotech 2026. Article in Press. http://doi.org/10.7324/jabb.2026.317926
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