~ 512 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2018; 6(3): 512-515 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2018; 6(3): 512-515 © 2018 IJCS Received: 06-03-2018 Accepted: 07-04-2018 Asif M Rather Division of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Tariq A Bhat Division of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture,Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India MA Hajam Division of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India EA Parray Division of fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India MA Wani Division of fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India MA Hajam Division of fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Ishaq A Bhat Division of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India Correspondence Asif M Rather Division of Vegetable Science, Faculty of Horticulture, Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India To study role of organic manures and bio- fertilizers on quality and leaf yield of lettuce Asif M Rather, Tariq A Bhat, MA Hajam, EA Parray, MA Wani, MA Hajam and Ishaq A Bhat Abstract A field experiment was conducted during Rabi 2016-17 at Experimental Farm of Division of Vegetable Science SKUAST-K Shalimar Campus, to study role of organic manures and bio-fertilizers on quality and leaf yield of lettuce. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with inorganic fertilizers, three types of both organic manures and bio-fertilizers constituting 13 treatments combinations in all.The investigation revealed that the treatment T9, (60 kg N ha -1 + 45 kg P ha -1 + 30 kg K ha -1 + Vermicompost (4 t ha -1 ) + Biofertilizers @ 7.5 l ha -1 ) recorded higher values for quality parameters viz., dry matter content (10.17 %), Vitamin C (37.48 mg 100 g -1 ), total chlorophyll content (18.85 mg 100 g -1 ) and total carotenoids (4.26 mg 100 g -1 ) and leaf yield (23.83 t ha -1 ). Keywords: Bio-fertilizers, lettuce, organic manures, Vermicompost, quality Introduction Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), is an annual plant of Asteraceae family. It is a self-pollinated annual plant.It is a vital salad crop and is especially valuable in terms of vitamin content, minerals and other properties. It also possess various health benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties, protects neuronal cells etc. In India, salad crops are not grown on commercial scale as in the United States and other European countries where it is being grown by large number of commercial growers. In Jammu and Kashmir, the crop is grown on a very limited scale. There has been a gradual increase in its cultivation as the temperate conditions of Kashmir are congenial for its cultivation. The quantity and quality of this crop is affected by many factors and the most important factor is fertilizers. For optimum plant growth, nutrients must be available in sufficient and balanced quantities. With the increase in population, the crop production needs to be enhanced manifold. As a result of which, growers are making heavy use of chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) without any consideration to soil and human health. The increased use of chemicals under intensive cultivation has not only contaminated the ground and surface water but has also disturbed the harmony existing among the soil, plant and microbial population (Bahadur et al., 2006) [2] . Organic farming is appreciated by vegetable consumers as it enhances quality of the produce. Lettuce being a salad crop, organic cultivation of this crop is preferable, which increases its quality with minimum residual effect. Organic manure plays a direct role in plant growth as a source of all necessary macro and micronutrients in available forms during mineralization and improves physical and chemical properties of soils (Chaterjee et al., 2005) [3] . Materials and Methods The present investigation was carried out at Experimental Farm, Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar campus, during Rabi 2016-17. The experimental material consisted of one cultivar named LS-2 of lettuce crop, chemical fertilizers (Urea, Diammonium Phosphate, and Muriate of Potash), organic manures viz. farm yard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), sheep manure (SM) and three types of biofertilizers namely Azotobacter, Phosphorus Solubilising Bacteria and Potassium Solubilising Bacteria. All of these Biofertilizers were procured from Biofertilizer Labarotory, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura, SKUAST-K. The treatment combination T 1 [120 kg N ha -1 + 90 kg P ha -1 + 60 kg K ha -1 (RFD)], T 2 [Farmyard manure (24 t ha -1 )], T 3 [Vermicompost (8 t ha -1 )], T 4 [Sheep Manure (17 t ha -1 )], T 5 [60 kg N ha -1 + 45 kg P ha -1 + 30 kg K ha -1 + Farmyard manure (12 t ha -1 )], T 6