Impact of Biofertilizers and Micronutrients in Combination with NPK on Yield and Quality of Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)

Abstract

This study was conducted at the experimental and production station of the National Research Centre in the El-Noubaria region of Beheira Governorate during the 2023 and 2024 growing seasons. The study examined the impact of biofertilizers and micronutrients on the yield and its attributes of bottle gourd plants. Three types of biofertilizers (nitrobin, microbin, and rizobactrin at a rate of 400g per feddan as soil dressing) and micronutrients (micromix) at two different rates (0.84 and 1.64 kg/fed. as foliar application with control) were used in the experiment. microbin, nitrobin, and rizobactrin are commonly used in Egypt as commercial bio-inoculants that aim to enhance soil fertility while reducing the environmental and financial costs associated with synthetic chemical fertilizers. The results indicated that using microbin biofertilizers significantly improved fruit length, fruit diameter, average fruit weight, and overall yield. The micromix application at a rate of 1.64 kg/fed. achieved the highest yield in both seasons. Additionally, the combined application of microbin and micromix at a rate of 1.64 kg/fed. resulted in the highest yield and fruit quality of bottle gourd. The application of biofertilizers and micronutrients enhanced the uptake of mineral fertilizers (N, P, K) and improved the quality of
bottle gourd fruits by increasing total soluble solid, vitamin C, total carotenoid content and antioxidants.