The present study reports that EF polymer in potting media for rooftop cultivation of ridge gourds bestows myriads effect on growth, yield and quality in ridge gourd plants. Here in media of sand + vermicompost + EF polymer + cocopeat + vermiculite and perlite (3: 2.5: 2: 2: 0.5) had significant effect on vine length (426.5cm), number of branches per vine (14.66), early flowering (35.6 days), early picking (95 days), duration of flowering (155.67days), maximum fruit length (22.3cm), fruit diameter (4.2cm) and fruit yield (680.66gm). Similarly, it influences quality parameters such as TSS (4.2°Brix), total sugar (9.15mg/100g), protein content (1.39 mg/100g), vitamin C (4.34mg/100g), reducing sugar (6.58mg/100g), available of nitrogen (0.86%), phosphorus (0.704%) and potassium (1.87%) in leaf as compare to control. Moreover, EF polymer in potting media act as bio stimulant to stimulate the nitrogen content and influence photosynthetic efficiency in ridge gourd.

Growing media is the important aspect to measure healthy seedlings in ridgegourd. Hydrogel polymer in media provide bio-stimulant to nitrogen promotes seed germination through function as signaling molecule. The present study reports that hydrogel polymer when mixed with cocopeat, perlite, vermiculite (3:1:1) ratio bestows myriad effects on seedling growth. Herein, seed sown in media of cocopeat, perlite, vermiculite (3:1:1) along with 1 gm hydrogel polymer improved seedling germination, root and shoot growth, chlorophyll content and net profit as compared to control.