Influence of biofertilizers and bioenhancer on growth and yield of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Dutch.) cv. Chandler

The present study was conducted in the Department of Horticulture, Chandra Sekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The experiment aimed to assess the impact of various biofertilizers (Azotobacter and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB)) and bioenhancers (Panchagavya, Jeevamrit and Amritpani) on the growth and yield parameters of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Dutch.) cv. Chandler. The experiment was conducted using a randomized block design, featuring ten treatments, each replicated three times. Treatments included combinations of biofertilizers (Azotobacter, PSB) and bioenhancers (Panchagavya, Jeevamrit, Amritpani). Among the ten treatments tested, including a control, the treatment T9 (Panchagavya 3 % + PSB 50 g/bed + Azotobacter 50 g/bed) showed the best results, significantly enhancing plant height, spread, number of leaves, leaf area, number of crowns and runners per plant. This treatment also shortened the time to first flowering, extended the flowering duration, maximum number of flowers and fruit per plant and minimum days to fruit set. Fruit traits such as length, diameter, weight, volume and specific gravity (g/cc), yield parameters such as yield per plant (g) and yield per plot were also improved under the treatment T9. Thus, the combination of biofertilizers and bioenhancers demonstrated significant potential to increase crop growth and yield in fields. We concluded that the combined use of Panchagavya, PSB and Azotobacter should be utilized for improving the vegetative growth, flowering and fruit yield of strawberry cv. Chandler, especially under an organic farming system.