Effect of Fertigation on Yield, Fertilizer Use Efficiency and Economics in Hybrid Ridge Gourd

A field Investigation was carried out to study the effect of fertigation on yield, fertilizer use efficiency and economics of hybrid ridge gourd [Luffa acutangula (L.) Roxb] Arka Vikram during 2018-2019 at Vegetable Research Block of ICAR- Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru, Karnataka. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design having eight treatments and three replications. The results of the experiment revealed that the treatment T3 i.e application of water soluble fertilizers @ 150:90:150 kg NPK ha-1 through fertigation recorded maximum number of female flower per vine (29.73), number of fruits per vine (19.68), fruit length (49.76 cm), fruit girth (18.40 cm), average fruit weight (454.03 g), fruit yield per vine (4.03 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (53.73 t). Application of water soluble fertilizers @ 150:90:150 kg NPK ha-1 through fertigation (T3) recorded significantly higher fruit yield per hectare (53.73 t ha-1), which was higher to the tune of 23.8 to 70.4 per cent than other treatments tested in hybrid ridge gourd. The second highest fruit yield was obtained with T2 (43.40 t ha-1) followed by T1 (42.10 t ha-1). However, T5 i.e application of water soluble fertilizers @ 50:30:50 kg NPK ha-1 resulted in highest fertilizer use efficiency (245.38 kg yield kg-NPK-1) compared to other treatments. Fertigation at 100% NPK dose along with mulching with silver-black plastic mulch gave the highest net income (Rs.555435.0 ha-1) and B: C ratio of 2.22.