Effect of Bio-fertilizers on Shoot Growth of Dragon Fruit Cuttings (Hylocereus undatus L.)

The present investigation was carried out under open field condition at Horticulture Research Farm, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow Uttar Pradesh., India to determine the effect of bio-fertilizers on the shoot growth of dragon fruit cutting (Hylocereus undatus L.) during the year of 2022-23. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD)with three replications. There were 09 treatments, viz., T1-Control, T2-Azotobacter (1%), T3-Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria-1%), T4-Azotobacter (2%), T5- Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (2%), T6-Azotobacter (1%) + Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (1%), T7- Azotobacter (1%) + Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (2%), T8- Azotobacter (2%) + Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (1%) and T9-Azotobacter (2%) + Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (2%). Treatments have showed significant differences among the growth parameters in terms of number of days taken for sprouting, percent sprouting, number of sprouts per cutting, length of the newly emerged shoot, diameter of shoot, average number of spine/areoles, diameter of shoot average number of spine/areoles. Among the treatment combination least number of days taken for sprouting ,maximum percent sprouting , maximum number of sprouts per cutting, maximum increase in length of the newly emerged shoot, maximum number of spine/areoles, maximum increase in diameter of shoot, maximum fresh weight of shoot and maximum dry weight of shoot was found in treatment T8- Azotobacter (2%) + Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (1%) followed by T9-Azotobacter (2%)+ Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (2%) while minimum has recorded in T1(Control).