Cucurbitaceae is one of the largest family in vegetable kingdom consisting of largest number of edible type species. Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Poir.) is one such important vegetable belongs to family Cucurbitaceae. Pumpkin fruits are extensively used as vegetables both in immature and mature stage. The yellow and orange fleshed fruits are very rich in carotene (3,332 IU), which is precursor of Vitamin-A with fair quantities of vitamins B and C. In modern agriculture, chemical fertilizers constitute the major portion of total cost of seed production. As the cultivation of pumpkin is fast expanding, the growers often come across one or the other problems that limit its fullest expressions of growth and productivity. Hence, these problems could be overcome partially or completely by using different agrochemicals like mineral nutrients and growth regulators. The optimum doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium vary greatly with the length of growing season, fertility status of soil, soil type, cultivar, geographical location and the environmental factors. These factors will have marked effect on the growth and yield parameters of pumpkin [1,2].

The experiment entitled “Integrated Nutrient Management studies in Pumpkin” was conducted at Horticulture farm, Department of Horticulture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during the year 2011. Sowing of pumpkin seed on medium black soil, it was free from weeds and disease infection. In order to know the chemical properties of soil a representative soil sample was collected from experimental site by using appropriate soil sampling technique. The treatments detail are as follow as, T₁-50:25:0 kg NPK (RDF) + FYM @25t/ha, T₂-50:25:25 kg NPK + FYM@25t/ha, T₃-25:25:25 kg NPK + Seed treatment with Azotobacter @ 25 g/kg seed + FYM@25t/ha, T₄-50:25:25 kg NPK + Seed treatment with PSB @ 25 g/kg seed + FYM@25t/ha, T₅-25:25:25 kg NPK +Seed treatment with Azotobacter and PSB @ 25 g/kg seed + FYM@25t/ha, T₆-Seed treatment with Azotobacter and PSB @ 25 g/kg seed + FYM@25t/ha, T₇-Seed treatment with Azotobacter and PSB @ 25 g/kg seed + Vermicompost 2 t/ha + FYM@25t/ha, T₈-50:25:0 kg NPK + Seed treatment with PSB@ 25 g/kg seed +FYM@25t/ha, T₉-50:25:0 kg NPK + Seed treatment with Azotobacter and PSB @ 25 g/kg seed + FYM@25t/ha, T₁₀-25:25:25 kg NPK + Seed treatment with Azotobacter and PSB @ 25 g/kg seed + vermicompost 2 t/ha + FYM @25t/ha. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with Three replications and Ten treatments. Variety used was Arka Chandan for Pumpkin. Five plants were selected at random in each plot to record the observations on Flesh colour of fruit, Thickness of flesh (cm), Number of seeds per fruit, Total Soluble Solids (%), Yield per hectare (q), Nutrient uptake (%) by vine, Final nutrient status after harvest (kg ha^-1).

The number of seeds per fruit was recorded maximum in treatment T₄ (380.12) followed by T₇, T₅ and T₆ were found at par with each other. Minimum (223.33) number of seeds was recorded in treatment T₁. In respect of thickness of flesh showed significant influence over INM. The treatment T₄ recorded maximum (2.67 cm) thickness of flesh, which was at par with the treatment T₅. Whereas, minimum (1.90 cm) thickness of flesh was recorded in the treatment T₁. The maximum (11.76%) TSS percentage was recorded significantly in the treatment T₈. The minimum (7.56%) TSS percentage was recorded in the treatment T₂. The results of present investigation are in agreement with the finding of [3]. The observation on the effect of INM on flesh colour of pumpkin fruit was recorded. Basically, pumpkin produces fruit with yellowish flesh colour. Observation were recorded by eye estimation, most of the fruit did not show variation regarding flesh colour. In respect to the yield of fruit per hectare treatment T₄ produced maximum (210.95 q/ha), which is significantly superior over all other remaining treatments followed by T₅, T₆, T₃, T₁₀, T₈ and T₂. The minimum (80.28 q/ha) yield per hectare was recorded in T₁ [4].

Nutrient uptake by vine for nitrogen reveals that, maximum (4.23 kg) nitrogen uptake by vine was found in treatment T₄, which was at par with treatment T₃. Minimum (3.32 kg) uptake of nitrogen was recorded in T₆. Phosphorous uptake by vine was recorded Maximum (0.42%) in treatment T₄ and the treatment T₇ recorded minimum (0.28%) uptake of total phosphorus. Potassium uptake by vine indicated that, the treatment T₄ recorded maximum (0.39%) amount of total potash content and it was found to be at par with the treatment T₅ (0.35%). The treatment T₁ recorded minimum (0.23%) uptake amount of total potash. In general, overall trend of the data revealed that integrated use of inorganic fertilizers along with application of organic manures and biofertilizers resulted in increased N uptake compared to sole application of organic manures or inorganic fertilizers. The results are in conformity with the findings of [5,6]. The maximum total uptake of P by plant was recorded in T₄-50:25:25 NPK kg ha^-1 + 25 t FYM ha^-1 and seed treatment of PSB which was significantly superior over other treatments. These findings are in conformity with the results obtained which revealed that application of biofertilizers increased P uptake along with increasing uptake of N in pumpkin. The phosphate activity and phosphorus content [7] was more in vermicompost than FYM, resulted in higher uptake and availability of phosphorus after harvest. The same trend in increasing K₂O uptake by pumpkin plants. This may be due to fact that favorable effect of higher uptake of N influenced the faster growth of plant that increases the demand for K₂O in soil [8,9].

The data presented in Table 1 revealed that, various combinations of inorganic fertilizers, organic manures and biofertilizers significantly influenced the nutrient status of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash in the soil after harvest in integrated nutrient management system.

Table 1: Effect of integrated nutrient management on total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium content of the vine and Available soil Nitrogen, Phosphorus and potassium after harvest (kg ha^-1) as influenced by integrated nutrient management.

The significantly maximum (190.23 kg ha^-1) nitrogen was observed in the soil with the treatment T₄ receiving application of 50:25:25(NPK kg ha^-1) recommended dose of fertilizers in combination with FYM 25 t ha^-1 and seed treatment of PSB with 25 gm kg^-1 of seed, which was at par with T₉, T₅, T₂, followed by treatment T₁, T₈, T₁₀ at par with each other. Minimum (162.75 kg ha^-1) nitrogen was recorded in the soil after harvest in the treatment T₆ where no use of chemical fertilizer was done. In respect of Phosphorus status in the soil after harvest, various combinations of inorganic fertilizers, organic manures and biofertilizers significantly influenced it. Significantly maximum (27.97 kg ha^-1) phosphorus was recorded in the treatment T₄ which was at par with T₉, T₆, T₅ and T₃. Whereas, minimum phosphorus was recorded in the treatment T₁ (21.15 kg ha^-1). Potash status in the soil after harvest was significantly influenced by various treatments of integrated nutrient management. Significantly maximum (386.81 kg ha^-1) potash was recorded in the treatment T₄ with the 50:25:25 (NPK kg ha^-1) dose of fertilizers in combination with FYM 25 t ha<^-1 and seed treatment of PSB, which was significantly superior over other treatments. The minimum (335.35 kg ha^-1) Potash was recorded in treatment T₁.

There was an overall increase in the available NPK in soil with the combined application of inorganic fertilizers, organic manures and Biofertilizers. Improvement in the status of available nutrients in the soil after harvest of the crop was due to addition of these nutrients through application of organic manures, inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizers. This may be attributed to direct application of inorganic fertilizers and slow release of N through Vermicompost or FYM and biological fixation of N by bacteria. Vermicompost is a better source of N and a good carrier material for Azotobacter and PSB [10] over the FYM [7]. Vermicompost may brought up the population of Azotobacter and PSB which resulted in higher available in the soils.