Vol. 9, Issue 8, Part J (2025)

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of humic acid and microbial consortia on soil properties, growth, and yield parameters of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) under varying levels of recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF). The field experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 09 treatments and three replications during the 2024-25 at the section of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, BTC College of Agriculture and Research Station, Bilaspur Chhattisgarh. Treatments included control, 100% RDF, and 75% RDF alone or in combination with humic acid and/or microbial consortia. The results revealed that the integrated application of 75% RDF + humic acid + microbial consortia (T₆) recorded the maximum number of branches per plant (5.04, 7.21, and 10.12 at 30, 60, and 90 DAT, respectively), highest fruit count (24.00), maximum fruit size (16.00 cm length and 4.45 cm diameter), and superior fruit yield (23.33 t ha⁻¹), representing a 20% increase over 100% RDF. The improved performance of T₆ was attributed to enhanced nutrient availability, root growth, hormonal stimulation, and increased microbial activity in the rhizosphere. Soil analysis indicated an improvement in organic carbon and available NPK under integrated treatments compared to control. The findings suggest that combining humic acid and microbial consortia with reduced chemical fertilizers can sustain high yields while improving soil health, offering a viable approach for sustainable brinjal production.