INTRODUCTION

India is the largest producer of garlic in the world
with an annual production 5,65,000 tones at an average
productivity of 4.74 t /ha (Shanmugasundaram. 2005),
which is much lower than the potential productivity. Garlic,
being a nutrient loving crop, responds well to added
fertilizers in the soil. Warade et al (1995) stated that
continuous application of inorganic fertilizers deteriorate
the soil. Therefore, to maintain soil fertility in order to
supply plant nutrients in balanced proportion for optimum
growth, yield and quality of crop, under different agro-
ecological situations an integrated use of inorganic and
organic source of plant nutrients is to be practiced. Keeping
this in view, an experiment was conducted to study the
response of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth,
yield and quality of garlic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A field experiment was carried out at Department
of Horticulture, Marathwada Agricultural University,
Parbhani. Maharashtra, India during rabi   2005 on response
of organic and inorganic fertilizers on garlic, variety Yamuna
Safed - 3 by adopting Randomized Block Design with eight
treatments viz., T

1
-100 %  Recommended dose of fertilizers

(RDF),T
2-
 50 % RDF + 50 % N through vermicompost, T

3

-25 % RDF+ 75% N through vermicompost, T
4
 -50 % RDF

+ 50 % N through neem cake, T
5
 -25 % RDF +75 % N

through neem cake, T
6
 -50 % RDF +50 % N through FYM,

Response of garlic to organic and inorganic fertilizers

M. B. Patil, D. S. Shitole, S. B. Shinde and N. D. Purandare
Department of Horticulture

Marathwada Agriculture University
Parbhani- 431 402, India

E-mail: sorsbdn@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT

An experiment was carried out to study the response of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and
quality of garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. Yamuna Safed-3. The results revealed that the combined application of
25% RDF with 75% N through FYM @ 20 t/ha gave higher marketable bulb yield of 19.34t/ha as compared to
other treatments which were statistically on par with 100% RDF (18.53 t/ha ) and 50% RDF + 50% N supplied
as FYM (18.94 t/ha). It is suggested that for better biometric observations, bulb characters and marketable
bulb yield in garlic, combined use of inorganic and organic source of nutrient supply is preferable.

Key words: Organic, biometric, garlic

T
7
 -25 % RDF +75 % N through FYM and T

8
 –Control (no

manures and fertilizers ).  The soil was medium black with
pH 7.6 containing 0.74 % Organic Carbon, 255.02 kg / ha
N, 18.32 kg/ha P

2
 O

5
, 327.68 kg/ha K

2
0. The garlic variety

Yamuna Safed-3 was (clove) planted at 15 x 7.5 cm spacing
in 1.95 m x 1.35 m plots. The organic manures were applied
10 days before sowing. The inorganic chemical fertilizers,
as per the above treatments, were applied through urea,
single superphosphate and muriate of potash. Growth
parameters were recorded 30, 45, 60, 90, 105 and 120 days
after planting (DAP). Statistical analyses of biometrical
characters were done following Panse and Sukhatme (1967).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The data on the plant height number of leaves,
bolting percentage, days to maturity, neck thickness, polar
diameter, equatorial diameter, and shape index are presented
in Table 1 which revealed that there were significant
differences between organic and inorganic fertilizer
treatments. At 120 DAP, the maximum plant height of 71.90
cm was observed in the treatment 25 % RDF+75 % N
through FYM and found significantly higher than the
control, closely followed by application of 100 % RDF
(19.64 cm) and 25 % RDF + 75% N through neem cake
(71.34 cm). Treatments T

1
, T

2
, T

3
, T

4
, T

5
, T

6
 AND T

7
 did

not show significant differences. The control (T
8
) showed

the lowest plant height (70.06 cm) which may be due to
addition of no organic or inorganic fertilizers. Similar
finding was reported by Waghachaure (2004) in onion.

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 130-133, 2007

130



131

Significantly higher number of leaves per plant
(10.80) at 120 DAP was produced under the treatment 25%
RDF + 75% N through FYM as compared to other
treatments. The second best treatment in this regard was
T

6
. Treatments T

1
, T

2
, T

3
, T

4
, T

5
 and T

6
 were statistically on

par with each other. The lowest number of leaves per plant
(9.73) was observed in the control. As regards bolting
percentage, it was observed that the treatment T

7 
(25%

RDF+ 75 % N through FYM) showed a value of 17.70%.
Significantly higher bolting (37.68%) was observed in the
treatment T

3
 Treatment T

6
 recorded the earliness in bulb

maturity (126.10 days) and found to be significantly higher
than the treatment T

3
 and T

8 
control. The next best treatment

for attaining early maturity was treatment T
7
 (25% RDF +

75 % N – through FYM) (126.67 days), which was
statistically at par with the treatments T

1, 
and T

5
.

The treatment T
8
 (control) took maximum days

(133.00 days) for bulb maturity. The lowest neck thickness
(0.93 cm) in garlic bulbs was recorded in the treatment T

7
.

Maximum neck thickness in garlic bulbs (1.24 cm) was
recorded in the treatment T

1,
 which was found statistically

at par with the treatments T
2,
 T

3
 and T

8. 
 As regards polar

diameter, maximum polar diameter of bulb (4.7 cm) was
recorded in the treatment T

7,
 which was significantly higher

than the other treatments except T
1
 and T

6
. Significantly

minimum polar diameter (3.6cm) was recorded in the
treatment control (T

8
).

Similar trend was observed in respect of equatorial
diameter of garlic bulbs. Maximum equatorial diameter of
bulb (5.2 cm) was recorded in the treatment T

7
 (25%

RDF+75% N through FYM) the lowest equatorial diameter

of bulb (4.4 cm) as found in the treatments T
3 
(25% RDF+

75 % N through vermicompost) and were statistically
similar with each other.

Highest shape index of garlic bulb (0.90) was
recorded in the treatment T

6
 and T

7
 while significantly

lowest shape index of bulb (0.81) was recorded in the
treatment control T

8. 
Thus, positive influence of combined

treatment T
7
 on biometric characters of garlic could be

attributed due to solubilization of plant nutrients exerted
by addition of farm yard manure on native and applied plant
nutrients as well as chelating effect on metal ions leading
to subsequent uptake of NPK by plant (Subbiah et al,  1982).
Further, FYM might have enhanced the use efficiency of
chemical fertilizer.

The data on bulb characters and yield of garlic
shown in the Table 2. Significant differences in respect of
fresh weight of bulb and cured weight of bulb were observed
in treatments receiving organic and inorganic fertilizers.
Maximum fresh weight of bulb (35.60 g) was recorded in
the treatment T

7,
 which was significantly higher than other

treatments except treatment T
6
. The treatments T

2
, T

3
, T

5

and T
8 
were statistically at par with each other.  Significantly

lower fresh weight of bulb (24.00 g) was recorded in the
treatment T

8
. The trend observed in respect of cured weight

of bulb (33.40 g) was also similar in the treatment T
7,
 which

was significantly higher than other treatments except the
treatments T

1
 and T

6
. Significantly lower cured weight of

bulb (20.40 g) was recorded in the treatment T
8
. Similar

finding was reported by Lal et al (2004) in onion. The
maximum number of cloves per bulb (22.00) was recorded
in the treatment T

8
 followed by T

3
 (20.00) and T

2
 (19.00).

Table 1. Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on biometric characters of garlic cv. Yamuna Safed-3

Sl. No. Treatment Plant height No. of leaves Bolting Maturity Neck Polar Equatorial Shape
 (cm) at 120 DAP  at 120 DAP (%)  (days) thickness diameter  diameter index
(cm) (cm)  (cm)

T
1

100 % RDF 71.64 10.26 21.19 127.33 1.24 4.5 5.1 0.89
T

2
50 % RDF+50% N
through vermicompost 71.12 10.33 24.04 130.67 1.16 4.0 4.5 0.84

T
3

25 % RDF+75 % N
through vermicompost 71.00 10.20 27.34 132.33 1.13 3.8 4.4 0.86

T
4

50 % RDF+ 50 % N
through neem cake 71.26 10.20 24.00 130.33 1.10 4.4 4.9 0.88

T
5

2 5% RDF+ 75 % N
through neem cake 71.34 10.13 28.99 129.67 1.04 4.0 4.7 0.86

T
6

50 % RDF+ 50 % N
through FYM 70.96 10.40 19.89 126.10 0.99 4.5 5.1 0.90

T
7

25 % RDF+ 75 % N
through FYM 71.90 10.80 17.70 126.67 0.93 4.7 5.2 0.90

T
8

 Control 70.06 9.73 37.68 133.00 1.22 3.6 4.4 0.81
SE ± 0.50 0.09 0.84 1.52 0.04 0.07 0.07 0.01
CD(P=0.05) 1.58 0.29 2.56 4.60 0.14 0.22 0.24 0.04

Response of garlic to fertilizers

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 130-133, 2007



132

The lowest number of cloves per bulb (12.00) was found in
the treatment T

7. 
As regards clove length, maximum length

of clove (3.50cm) was recorded in the treatment T
7
. The

treatments T
2
 (2.60), T

3
 (2.40) and T

5 
(2.70) were

statistically at par with each other. The minimum length of
clove was measured in the control treatment T

8
 (2.30 cm).

Maximum diameter of clove (1.35 cm) was recorded in the
treatment T

7. 
 Significantly lower clove diameter (1.08 cm)

was recorded in the control. As regards clove weight,
maximum mean weight of clove was recorded in the
treatment T

7
 (2.73 g), which was significantly superior to

the rest of the treatments except treatment T
6
. The treatments

T
2
 (1.40g), T

3
 (1.26 g) and T

5
 (1.66 g) were statistically at

par with each other. Significantly lower weight of clove
(0.88g) was recorded in the treatment T

8
. Highest bulb yield

per plot was recorded in the treatment T
7
 (5.10 kg) followed

by the treatment T
6
 (4.97 kg) and treatment T

1
 (4.95 kg),

which were significantly superior over to rest of the
treatments under study. The lowest bulb yield per plot (4.50
kg) was recorded in the treatment T

8
. As regards yield per

hectare, the treatment T
7
 recorded the highest bulb yield

(19.33 q / ha). The treatments T
1
 and treatment T

6
 were

statistically at par with the treatment T
7. 

Lowest bulb yield
(17.05 t/ha) was recorded in the treatment T

8
. Similar results

were reported by Shamra et al  (2003) in onion.

Biometric observations as well as bulb characters
and yield of garlic were significantly influenced by the
combined use of inorganic chemical fertilizers with organic
sources of nutrients. This might be due to gradual and steady
release of nutrient during the growth period as well as

Table 2. Response of organic and inorganic fertilizer on biometric observations of garlic cv. Yamuna Safed-3

Sr. No. Treatment Mean fresh Mean cured Mean Length of Diameter Weight Bulb Bulb
bulb wt (g) weight of number clove(cm) of clove of clove yield / yield /

bulb (g) of cloves (cm) / bulb (g) plot (kg) ha(q)
/bulb

T
1

100 % /RDF 32.73 30.26 14.00 3.00 1.30 2.13 4.95 188.26
T

2
50 % TDF + 50 % N
through vermicompost 29.44 27.17 19.00 2.26 1.21 1.40 4.67 177.15

T
3

25 % RDF + 75 % N
through vermicompost 28.61 25.46 20.00 2.40 1.09 1.26 4.63 175.50

T
4

50 % RDF + 50 % N
through neem cake 31.46 29.06 15.00 2.90 1.27 1.93 4.77 180.81

T
5

25 % RDF + 75 % N
through neem cake 30.93 28.66 17.00 2.70 1.24 1.66 4.77 180.68

T
6

50 % RDF + 50 % N
through FYM 34.33 31.93 14.00 3.20 1.32 2.40 4.97 189.33

T
7

25 % RDF + 75 % N
through FYM 35.60 33.40 12.00 3.50 1.35 2.73 5.10 193.31

T
8

Control 24.00 20.40 22.00 2.30 1.08 0.88 4.50 170.47
SE ± 0.90 1.09 16.00 0.01 0.30 0.11 0.05 2.00
CD (P=0.05) 2.75 3.30 1.04 0.30 0.10 0.34 0.18 6.07

enhanced biological activity and proper nutrition to the crop
(Nair and Peter, 1990 ; Sharma and Bhal, 1995; Hangarge
et al,  2001).  Thus, for better biometric and bulb character
and marketable yield of garlic, combined use of inorganic
and organic sources of nutrient supply is suggested.

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(MS received 4 May 2007, Revised 10 December 2007)

Response of garlic to fertilizers

J. Hort. Sci.
Vol. 2 (2): 130-133, 2007