Effect of different organic materials and chemical fertilizer on yield and quality of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

A field experiment was conducted at Biochemistry Section, Post Harvest Research Center, Faisalabad to evaluate the effect of different organic materials and chemical fertilizers on yield and quality of bitter gourd. Six treatments viz. Control (without fertilizer/organic material), Chemical fertilizer (NPK 50:75:60 kg ha -1 ), Press mud (PM), Farm yard manure (FYM), Poultry manure (PoM) and Composite organic materials (1/3 PM + 1/3 FYM + 1/3 PoM) were applied using randomized complete block design with three replications. Organic materials were added on nitrogen equivalent basis. Fresh bitter gourd samples were analyzed for quality parameters. Results revealed that chemical fertilizers gave maximum yield during all the three years of study (6.69, 7.84 and 8.01 t ha -1 during 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively) while poultry manure was found the best regarding all quality parameters. When effect of organic materials was compared; it was evident that poultry manure produced the highest yield. During the year 2010, poultry manure gave yield (5.77 t ha -1 ), dry matter (8.56%), crude protein (1.74%), crude fat (2.01%), crude fiber (1.74%) and mineral matter (1.06%) while during 2011, it gave yield (6.92 t ha -1 ), dry matter (8.84%), crude protein (1.59%), crude fat (2.06%), crude fiber (1.55%) and mineral matter (1.65%). In the third year (2012), poultry manure produced 7.56 t ha -1 yield, 8.72% dry matter, 1.88% crude protein, 1.54% crude fiber, 2.26% crude fat and 1.24% mineral matter.