Boosting quality and yield of garlic (Allium sativum L): The synergy of microbiome and chemical fertilizers

The replacement of chemical fertilizers with organic alternatives has demonstrated significant benefits for enhancing soil fertility and crop yield. However, limited research exists on sustainable fertilization strategies for garlic-based cropping pattern. This study aimed to investigate the changes in microbial community composition under various fertilization treatments during the garlic-growing season. An experiment was carried out at SKUAST-K, Wadura, Faculty of Agriculture during the year 2021 to study the impact of various Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) modules on soil properties and various quality parameters of garlic (Allium sativum L.). The study evaluated various soil properties, including texture, bulk density, particle density, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC) and primary nutrient uptake. The soil was characterized as silty loam, with the highest particle density and bulk density observed at 2.47 Mg m-3 and 1.30 Mg m-3 , respectively. An improvement in soil fertility conditions was seen as a result of integrated nutrient management. The application of combined organic and inorganic fertilizer affected the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium that was absorbed by garlic. The data revealed that pH decreased with increase in organic manure, whereas EC and OC increased with increase in the level of fertilizers. The increasing trend was observed in micronutrient cations, namely Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe, with increase in level of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The highest uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium found in bulbs was 28.17, 8.57 and 24.70 kg ha -1 all treatments were combined. The maximum biomass of garlic was recorded in T7 {75% RDF + Vermicompost (10 tonnes ha-1 ) + Biofertilizer [(PSB (200 ml) + KSB (200 ml) + Azotobacter (200 ml)]}, which ranged from 4.37 to 10.30 t ha-1 . The maximum bulb yield was recorded in T7, which varied from 3.60 to 8.24 t ha-1.