Integrated approach for nutrient management in guava cv. L49 under Malwa Plateau conditions of Madhya Pradesh

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1 International Journal of Agricultural Sciences Volume 9 Issue 2 June, RESEARCH PAPER Integrated approach for nutrient management in guava cv. L49 under Malwa Plateau conditions of Madhya Pradesh MANDEEP KAUR BINEPAL, RAJESH TIWARI* AND B.R. KUMAWAT Department of Science, College of Horticulture (R.V.S.K.V.V.) MANDSAUR (M.P.) INDIA ( rt_inkvv@yahoo.com) Abstract : An experiment was conducted during at the Department of Science, K.N.K. College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (M.P.) on seven year old guava tree cv. L-49 with two levels of nitrogen i.e., 600 g N (100% N) and 450 g N (75% N), two levels of phosphorus i.e., 400 g P2O5 (100% P2O5) and 300 g P2O5 (75% P2O5) and a common dose of potassium i.e., 300 g K2O and 30 g each of Azospirillium and PSB inoculation and 10 kg Vermicompost. The results revealed that the application of 100% N + 100% P2O5 + Azospirillium + PSB + 10 kg vermicompost (T9) significantly influence the morpho-physical, reproductive and quality parameters of guava. Maximum increase in plant height (0.65 m), canopy spread N-S direction (0.92 m) and E-W direction (1.00 m), maximum fruit length (7.52 cm) and fruit diameter (7.91 cm) at harvest, fruit volume ( ml), maximum fruit setting (79.56%), minimum fruit drop (20.41%), maximum fruit retention (79.59%), average fruit weight ( g), number of fruits per tree (384), TSS ( Brix), total sugar (8.06%), reducing sugar (4.17%), non-reducing sugar (3.89%), pectin (0.81%), ascorbic acid ( mg/100 g pulp) and lowest acidity (0.20%) were obtained with treatment T9. The combined application of recommended dose of NPK with vermicompost (10 kg) and biofertilizers (30 g /plant) gave significantly higher fruit yield per tree (84.66 kg) with higher B: C ratio (1:5.27). Key Words : Guava, L-49, Integrated nutrient management, Yield, Quality View Point Article : Binepal, Mandeep Kaur, Tiwari, Rajesh and Kumawat, B.R. (2013). Integrated approach for nutrient management in guava cv. L-49 under Malwa Plateau conditions of Madhya Pradesh. Internat. J. agric. Sci., 9(2): Article History : Received : ; Revised : ; Accepted : INTRODUCTION Guava (Psidium guajava L.), is one of most exquisite, valuable and popular fruits grown in tropical, sub-tropical and some parts of arid regions of India, which belongs to the family Myrtaceae. It is the fifth most important fruit in area after mango, citrus, banana and apple with covering an area of 0.22 million hectare. Fifth most important fruit in production after banana, mango, citrus and papaya with total production of million tonnes (NHB, 2010). Conventional (chemical based) farming is nonsustainable because of many problems such as loss of soil health and productivity from excessive erosion and low farm income from high production costs etc. In view of these, there is an increasing awareness about alternate agriculture system known as integrated plant nutrient management. The basic concept of integrated nutrient management (INM) is the * Author for correspondence adjustment of plant nutrient supply with proper combination of chemical fertilizers, organic manure and biofertilizers suitable to the system of land use and ecological, social and economic conditions. Vermicompost is an ecofriendly natural fertilizer prepared from biodegradable organic wastes, rich in micro and macronutrients, vital plant promoting substances, humus farming substances, N-fixers and humus forming microorganism. Azospirillium is alternate source for nitrogen enrichment in non-leguminous crops, which fixed the atmospheric nitrogen and PSB has highly efficient phosphate solubilizing microorganism (PSM) that grow and secrete organic acids, which dissolve this unavailable phosphate into soluble form and make it available to the plants. Malwa is an important region in Madhya Pradesh, where guava is widely grown. However, these guava orchards are declining in their productivity. There is an urgent need for an alternative nutritional package to attain long term sustainability for fruit

2 MANDEEP KAUR BINEPAL, RAJESH TIWARI AND B.R. KUMAWAT production as well as for maintaining soil health and productivity under INM system. Keeping the above facts in view, an experiment was conducted to find out the INM doses for sustainable production. MATERIAL AND METHODS The experiment was conducted at the Department of Science, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (M.P.) on seven years old guava tree cv. L-49 during There were two levels of nitrogen i.e., 600 g N (100% N) and 450 g N (75% N), two levels of phosphorus i.e., 400 g P2O5 (100% P2O5) and 300 g P2O5 (75% P2O5) and a common dose of potassium i.e., 300 g K2O and 30 g each of Azospirillium and PSB inoculation and 10 kg Vermicompost was applied to the plants. The nitrogen was applied through urea, containing 46 per cent nitrogen. The phosphorus was given by single super phosphate, containing 16 per cent P2O5. The potassium was given by muriate of potash, containing 60 per cent K2O. The whole of the organic manure was applied as a basal dose on the onset of monsoon. Then required doses of fertilizers were applied in two split doses in the month of July and August and then bio-fertilizers were applied one week after each application of inorganic fertilizers. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of two levels of nitrogen, two levels of phosphorus and a common dose of potassium and Azospirillium and PSB inoculation and 10 kg vermicompost. Thus, there were 11 treatments combinations, keeping each treatment on two plants, providing total sixty-six plants. For recording various growth parameters viz., plant height, canopy spread, canopy height. The height of the plant and canopy spread was measured with the help of measuring device at the time of fertilizer application and at harvest and calculation of increase in plant height and canopy spread during the experimental was calculated. length and diameter were noted using the vernier caliper, volume of fruit was recorded by water displacement method and weight of fruit was recorded using electronic weigh balance. While reproductive parameters were calculated by following formulas: setting drop % Number of set fruits Number of flowers Total number of fruit set total number of fruits at harvest time Total number of fruit set retention Number of fruits at harvest Initial number of fruit set For determination of chemical parameters of fruit viz., acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), sugars (total, reducing and non-reducing sugars), ascorbic acid and pectin content, four healthy fruits were selected randomly from each tree at full maturity stage. Hand refractometer was used for determination of T.S.S. in 0Brix. Acidity was estimated by simple acid alkali 468 titration method as described in A.O.A.C. (1970). Sugars in fruit juice were estimated by the method as suggested by Nelson (1944). Assay method of ascorbic acid was followed given by Ranganna (1977). The estimation of pectin was according to the methods of Kertesz (1951). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results of the present study have been presented and discussed under the following headings: Morpho-physical parameters: The morph physical parameters of plant were significantly influenced by the integrated nutrient treatments (Table 1). Maximum increase in plant height, canopy spread N-S and E-W direction, maximum fruit length and diameter at harvest, fruit volume were obtained with the application of T9 (100% N + 100% P 2O5 + Azospirillium + PSB + 10 kg Vermicompost) which was superior than control. The physical characteristics of fruit are an expression of a plant s vegetative activity. The increase in vegetative growth and physical parameters of the plant may be explained by that the nutrient combinations of NPK accelerate the metabolic activities of the plant. Nitrogen positively influenced the vegetative growth of the plant, phosphorus plays an important role in photosynthesis and accumulation of food material and potassium plays an important role in carbohydrate and protein synthesis and in the regulation of water relations. It may also act as a catalyst in the formation of more complex substances and in the acceleration of enzyme activity. Vermicompost improves microbial distribution and moisture retention capacity in soil that results in greater enzymatic (phosphatase and urease) activities which improves the growth parameters ultimately might have reflected in increased fruit weight and other physical characters. Most of the soils are deficient in nitrogen and soluble forms of phosphorus, major essential macronutrient required for plant growth. Azospirillium, nitrogen fixer, associative symbiotic, lives inside the cortical cells and xylem vessels of plant roots and secrete growth promoting substances. PSB convert unavailable form of phosphorus by the secretion of organic acids and enzymes from applied PSB biofertilizer which ultimately lead to increase in morpho-physical characters of the guava. And under control treatment, lack of availability of nutrients for uptake results in poor growth and physical characters. These results are in accordance with the findings of Ram et al. (2007), Dutta et al. (2009), Pilania et al. (2010) in guava. Reproductive and yield parameters: Application of organic manure and chemical fertilizers along with biofertilizers significantly influenced the reproductive and yield parameters. Maximum fruit setting%, fruit retention%, average fruit weight, number of fruits per tree and highest yield per tree and minimum fruit drop% (Table

3 INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN GUAVA 2), were recorded with the application of T9 (100% N + 100% P 2 O 5 + Azospirillium + PSB + 10 kg vermicompost). Presence of B group vitamins, plant hormones and chemical exudates released during biological activity promoted by the vermicompost in the soil and retention of nutrients for longer period of time in combination with recommended dose of NPK accelerates the process of synthesis and accumulation of food materials and application of biofertilizers increased nutrient status as well as their uptake by the plants, they promote hormonal activity and induce their synthesis, reduce the flower and fruit drop caused by hormonal imbalance, hence maximizing fruit setting and fruit retention percentage which ultimately leads to increase in yield and other yield parameters. The present findings are in accordance with the results reported by Mitra et al. (2010), Cardoso et al. (2011), Rubee et al. (2011), Dhomane et al. (2011) in guava and Yadav et al. (2011) in mango crop. Chemical parameters: Integrated nutrient treatments also improved the fruit quality. Their application significantly influenced the chemical constituent s of the fruit. The minimum acidity % and maximum TSS/acid ratio, ascorbic acid content, pectin %, total soluble solids, total sugars %, reducing sugar % and non-reducing sugar % (Table 3) were recorded in application of T9 (100% N + 100% P2O5 + Azospirillium + PSB + 10 kg vermicompost) which were superior to control. The improvement in various chemical characteristics by application of optimum dose of Table 1 : Effect of integrated nutrient treatments on morpho-physical parameters of guava Plant Canopy spread Treatments height (m) (m) N-S E-W length diameter (cm) (cm) At harvest Volume of fruit (ml) Control (T0) % N + 100% P2O5 (T1) % N + 75% P2O kg vermicompost (T2) % N + 100% P2O5 + Azospirillium (T3) % N + 100% P2O5 + Azospirillium (T4) % N + 100% P2O5 + PSB (T5) % N + 75% P2O5 + PSB (T6) % N + 100% P2O5 +Azospirillium + PSB (T7) % N + 75% P2O5 + Azospirillium + PSB (T8) % N+ 100% P2O5 + Azospirillium + PSB + 10kg vermicompost (T9) % N + 75% P2O5 + Azospirillium + PSB + 10kg vermicompost (T10) C.D. (P=0.05) Data given for plant height, canopy spread are the increment during the investigation period S.E.± Table 2 : Effect of integrated nutrient treatments on reproductive and yield parameters of guava Treatments setting drop retention Average fruit weight (g) No. of fruits per tree Yield per tree (kg) Control (T0) % N + 100% P2O5 (T1) % N + 75% P2O kg vermicompost (T2) % N + 100% P2O5 + Azospirillium (T3) % N + 100% P2O5 + Azospirillium (T4) % N + 100% P2O5 + PSB (T5) % N + 75% P2O5 + PSB (T6) % N + 100% P2O5 +Azospirillium + PSB (T7) % N + 75% P2O5 + Azospirillium + PSB (T8) % N+ 100% P2O5 + Azospirillium + PSB + 10 kg vermicompost (T9) % N + 75% P2O5 + Azospirillium + PSB + 10 kg vermicompost (T10) S.E.± C.D. (P=0.05) 6.04 NS

4 MANDEEP KAUR BINEPAL, RAJESH TIWARI AND B.R. KUMAWAT NPK may be explained by the fact that phosphorus enters into the composition of phospholipids and nucleic acids, the latter combines with proteins and result in the formation of nucleo-proteins which are important constituents of the nuclei of the cells. Potassium acts as a catalyst in the formation of more complex substances and in the acceleration of enzyme activity. These carbohydrates and coenzymes are beneficial in the improvement of fruit quality and nitrogen enhances the uptake of phosphorus and potassium. The chain reactions in these components and beneficial effect of worms which is brought about by mucoses deposit of epidermal cells and coelomic fluids of earthworms, rich in plant growth substances and through rapid mineralization and transformation of plant nutrients in soil and also through the exertion of plant promoting substances, vitamins and amino acid content produced by microorganism of biofertilizers might have possibly been reason of the improvement in quality of the fruit. Similar findings were also reported by Kumar et al. (2009), Shukla et al. (2009), Sharma et al. (2009) and Rubee et al. (2011) in guava and Yadav et al. (2011) in mango. Acknowledgement: The authors are thankful to the Department of Science, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (M.P.) for providing assistance during the course of investigation. REFERENCES A.O.A.C. (1970). Methods of analysis, association of official agricultural chemists. Washington, DC., U.S.A. Cardoso, E. de A. Costa, Soares, J.T.A., Silva, I.S., Da, R.M. and Maracaja, P.B. (2011). Productivity of guava Paluma for each of mineral fertilization. Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentavel, 6 (2): Dhomane, P.A., Kadam, A.S., Lakade, S.K. and Gharage, V.R. (2011). Effect of different sources of nitrogen on growth and yield of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. SARDAR. Asian J. Hort., 6 (1): Dutta, P., Maji, S.B. and Das, B.C. (2009). Studies on the response of bio-fertilizer on growth and productivity of guava. Indian J. Hort., 66 (1): Kertesz, Z.I. (1951). The Pectic Substances. Interscience Publishers, New York. Kumar, Dinesh, Pandey, V., Anjaneyulu, K. and Nath, Vishal (2009). Optimization of major nutrients for guava yield and quality under east coastal conditions. Indian J. Hort., 66 (1): Mitra, S.K., Gurung, M.R. and Pathak, P.K. (2010). Integrated nutrient management in high density guava orchards. Acta Hort., 849: Nelson, N. (1944). A photometric adoption of the somogui method for the determination of glucose. J. Biol. Chem., 153 :

5 INTEGRATED APPROACH FOR NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN GUAVA Ranganna, S. (1977). Manual of analysis of fruits and vegetable products, Tata Mc Graw Hill publication Company Ltd., New Delhi, India. Ram, R.A., Bhriguvanshi, S.R. and Pathak, R.K. (2007). Integrated plant nutrient management in guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. SARDAR. Acta Hort., 73 (5) : Pilania, Shalini, Shukla, A.K., Mahawer, L.N., Sharma, Rajvir and Bairwa, H.L. (2010). Standardization of pruning intensity and integrated nutrient management in Meadow orcharding of guava (Psidium guajava). Indian J. Agric. Sci., 80: 8. Rubee Lata, Dwivedi, Deepa H., Ram, R.B. and Meena, M.L. (2011). Response of organic substrates on growth, yield and physiochemical characteristics of guava cv. RED FLESHED. Indian J. Ecol., 38 (1): Shukla, A.K., Sarolia, D.K., Kumari, Bhavana, Kaushik, R.A., Mahawer, L.N. and Bairwa, H.L. (2009). Evaluation of substrate dynamics for integrated nutrient management under high density planting of guava cv. SARDAR. Indian J. Hort., 66 (4): Yadav, A.K., Singh, J.K. and Singh, H.K. (2011). Studies on integrated nutrient management in flowering, fruiting, yield and quality of mango cv.amrapali under high density orcharding. Indian J. Hort., 68 (4): WEBLIOGRAPHY NHB (2010). All India area, production and productivity of guava. Sharma, Akash, Kher, R., Wall, VX. and Baksm, Parshant (2009). Effect of biofertilizers and organic manures on physico-chemical characteristics and soil nutrient composition of guava Psidium ( guajava L.) cv. SARDAR. J. Res. SKUASTJ, 8 (2):