Optimization of NPK for Growth, Yield and Quality of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49 Under Malwa Plateau Conditions THESIS

Transcription

1 Optimization of NPK for Growth, Yield and Quality of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49 Under Malwa Plateau Conditions THESIS Submitted to the Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In HORTICULTURE (FRUIT SCIENCE) By VIJESH KUMAR SHARMA Department of Fruit Science Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior K.N.K. College of Horticulture Mandsaur (M.P.) 2011

2 CERTIFICATE I This is to certify that the thesis entitled Optimization of NPK for Growth, Yield and Quality of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49 Under Malwa Plateau Conditions submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HORTICULTURE (FRUIT SCIENCE) of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior is a record the bonafide research work carried out by Mr. VIJESH KUMAR SHARMA ID.NO. RH/MS/1227/2009, under my guidance and supervision. The Student s Advisory Committee and the Director of Instruction have approved the subject of the thesis. No part of the thesis has been submitted for any other degree or diploma (Certificate awarded etc.) or has been published/published part has fully acknowledged. All the assistance and help received during the course of the investigation has been fully acknowledged by him. (Rajesh Tiwari) CHAIRMAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE THESIS APPROVED BY THE STUDENT S ADVISORY COMMITTEE Member Sh. R.N. Kanpure Member Dr. S.N. Mishra Member Dr. G.P.S. Rathore

3 CERTIFICATE II CERTIFICATE OF THESIS AND ORAL EXAMINATION M.Sc. Horticulture MANDSAUR, DATED. This is to certify that the thesis entitled Optimization of NPK for Growth, Yield and Quality of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49 Under Malwa Plateau Conditions submitted by Mr. VIJESH KUMAR SHARMA to the Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HORTICULTURE in the Department of FRUIT SCIENCE has been, after evaluation, approved by the External Examiner and by the Student s Advisory Committee after an oral examination on the same. Place: Mandsaur Date / / (Rajesh Tiwari) CHAIRMAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Member Sh. R.N. Kanpure Member Dr. S.N. Mishra Member Dr. G.P.S. Rathore Forwarded to the Dean, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur for further necessary action. Endt. No.COH/Acd/PG/Thesis/10-11/. Mandsaur Dated.. Head of Section FORWARDED TO THE DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTIONS, RVSKVV, GWALIOR (M.P.), FOR FURTHER NECESSARY ACTION. Forwarded to the Registrar, RVSKVV, Gwalior (M.P.), for further necessary action. DEAN DIRECTOR OF INSTRUCTIONS

4 CONTENT CHAPTER TITLE PAGE NO. I INTRODUCTION 1-4 II REVIEW OF LITRATURE 5-15 III MATERIALS AND METHODS IV RESULTS V DISCUSSION VI SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER WORK SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER WORK 78 REFERENCES APPENDICES i-x VITA

5 TABLE No. 1 LIST OF TABLES TITLE Weekly meteorological observations during the study period (June January 2011) IN BETWEEN PAGES Chemical analysis of soil Source and amount of nutrient used as treatment Details of treatment combinations Skeleton of analysis of variance Effect of N, P and K on plant height, canopy spread, canopy height and leaf length and width Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on plant height, canopy spread, canopy height and leaf length and width Combined effect of NPK on plant height, canopy spread, canopy height and leaf length and width Effect of N, P and K on shoot diameter and length Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on shoot diameter and length Combined effect of NPK on shoot diameter and length Effect of N, P and K on number of leaves per shoot, flower initiation, 50% flowering and fruit setting Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on number of leaves per shoot, flower initiation, 50% flowering and fruit setting Combined effect of NPK on number of leaves per shoot, flower initiation, 50% flowering and fruit setting Effect of N, P and K on fruit length 40-41

6 16 Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on fruit length Combined effect of NPK on fruit length Effect of N, P and K on fruit diameter Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on fruit diameter Combined effect of NPK on fruit diameter Effect of N, P and K on pulp thickness, pulp weight, pulp percentage, volume of fruit and specific gravity Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on pulp thickness, pulp weight, pulp percentage, volume of fruit and specific gravity Combined effect of NPK on pulp thickness, pulp weight, pulp percentage, volume of fruit and specific gravity Effect of N, P and K on number of seed per fruit, seed weight, seed percentage and seed/pulp ratio Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on number of seed per fruit, seed weight, seed percentage and seed/pulp ratio Combined effect of NPK on number of seed per fruit, seed weight, seed percentage and seed/pulp ratio Effect of N, P and K on yield parameters Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on yield parameters Combined effect of NPK on yield parameters Effect of N, P and K on acidity, TSS/acid ratio, ascorbic acid and pectin Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on acidity, TSS/acid ratio, ascorbic acid and pectin

7 Combined effect of NPK on acidity, TSS/acid ratio, ascorbic acid and pectin Effect of N, P and K on total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars Combined effect of NPK on total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars Economics of the different treatments (per ha.) 61-62

8 FIGOUR No. 1 LIST OF FIGOURS TITLE Weekly meteorological observations during the study period (June January 2011) IN BETWEEN PAGES Layout of the trial Effect of N, P and K on plant height Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on plant height Combined effect of NPK on plant height Effect of N, P and K on canopy parameters Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on canopy parameters Combined effect of NPK on canopy parameters Effect of N, P and K on leaf length and width Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on leaf length and width Combined effect of NPK on leaf length and width Effect of N, P and K on shoot diameter Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on shoot diameter Combined effect of NPK on shoot diameter Effect of N, P and K on shoot length Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on shoot length Combined effect of NPK on shoot length Effect of N, P and K on number of leaves per shoot Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on number of leaves per shoot Combined effect of NPK on number of leaves per shoot Effect of N, P and K on flowering 36-37

9 22 Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on flowering Combined effect of NPK on flowering Effect of N, P and K on fruit setting Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on fruit setting Combined effect of NPK on fruit setting Effect of N, P and K on fruit length Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on fruit length Combined effect of NPK on fruit length Effect of N, P and K on fruit diameter Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on fruit diameter Combined effect of NPK on fruit diameter Effect of N, P and K on volume of fruit Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on volume of fruit Combined effect of NPK on volume of fruit Effect of N, P and K on specific gravity Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on specific gravity Combined effect of NPK on specific gravity Effect of N, P and K on pulp thickness Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on pulp thickness Combined effect of NPK on pulp thickness Effect of N, P and K on pulp weight Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on pulp weight Combined effect of NPK on pulp weight 42-43

10 45 Effect of N, P and K on pulp percentage Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on pulp percentage Combined effect of NPK on pulp percentage Effect of N, P and K on number of seeds per fruit Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on number of seeds per fruit Combined effect of NPK on number of seeds per fruit Effect of N, P and K on seed weight Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on seed weight Combined effect of NPK on seed weight Effect of N, P and K on seed percentage Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on seed percentage Combined effect of NPK on seed percentage Effect of N, P and K on seed/pulp ratio Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on seed/pulp ratio Combined effect of NPK on seed/pulp ratio Effect of N, P and K on fruit weight Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on fruit weight Combined effect of NPK on fruit weight Effect of N, P and K on number of fruits per tree Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on number of fruits per tree Combined effect of NPK on number of fruits per tree Effect of N, P, and K on yield per tree Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on yield per tree 51-52

11 68 Combined effect of NPK on yield per tree Effect of N, P and K on acidity Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on acidity Combined effect of NPK on acidity Effect of N, P and K on TSS/acid ratio Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on TSS/acid ratio Combined effect of NPK on TSS/acid ratio Effect of N, P and K on ascorbic acid Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on ascorbic acid Combined effect of NPK on ascorbic acid Effect of N, P and K on pectin Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on pectin Combined effect of NPK on pectin Effect of N, P and K on total soluble solids (TSS) Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on total soluble solids (TSS) Combined effect of NPK on total soluble solids (TSS) Effect of N, P and K on Sugars Combined effect of NP, NK and PK on Sugars Combined effect of NPK on Sugars Economics of the treatment combinations 61-62

12 LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX No. TITLE PAGE No. I Analysis of variance for morphological characteristics i II Analysis of variance for morphological characteristics ii III Analysis of variance for morphological characteristics iii IV Analysis of variance for fruit length iv V Analysis of variance for fruit diameter v VI Analysis of variance for physical characteristics of fruit vi VII Analysis of variance for physical characteristics of fruit vii VIII Analysis of variance for yield parameters viii IX Analysis of variance for chemical characteristics of fruit ix X Analysis of variance for chemical characteristics of fruit x

13 LIST OF ABBRIVIATIONS o C : Degree Centigrade cm : Centimeter cv. : Cultivar et al. : And others ha : Hectare hr. : Hour g : Gram (s) ml : Milliliter i.e. : that is kg : Kilogram (s) m : Meter m 2 : Meter square Max. : Maximum Min. : Minimum / : Per % : Per cent qt : Quintal RH : Relative humidity spp. : Species Fig. : Figour TSS : Total soluble solids Temp. : Temperature var. : Variety Viz. : Namely

14 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Guava (Psidium guajava L.), is one of most 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, banana, citrus and apple and fifth most important fruit in production after banana, mango, citrus and papaya. It is cultivated in India since early 17 th century and due to its wider adaptability in diverse soils and agro-climatic regions, low cost of the cultivation, prolific bearing and being highly remunerative with nutritive values it has gained more popularity among the fruit growers. Guava is an evergreen, shallow-rooted shrub or small tree, upto 9 m tall with spreading branches. The bark is smooth, mottled green or reddish brown and peels off in thin flakes to reveal the attractive "bony" aspect of its trunk. The plant branches close to the ground and often produces suckers from roots near the base of the trunk. Young twigs are quadrangular and downy. Leaves are opposite, simple, short-petioled, entire and oval to oblongelliptic, somewhat irregular in outline, 2-6 inches long and 1-2 inches wide. The dull-green, stiff but leathery leaves have pronounced veins, and are slightly downy on the underside. Crushed leaves are aromatic. Flowers white, fragrant, borne singly or in clusters in the leaf axils, are 1 inch wide, with 4 or 5 white petals. These petals are quickly shed, leaving a prominent tuft of perhaps many white stamens tipped with pale-yellow anthers. Fruits may be round, ovoid or pear-shaped, 2-4 inches long, and have 4 or 5 protruding floral remnants (sepals) at the apex. The fruits are soft when ripe, creamy in texture with a rind that softens to be fully edible. The flesh is white and the seeds are numerous but small and, in good varieties, fully edible. This fruit crop originated in tropical America and seems to have been growing from Mexico to Peru. The trees were domesticated more than 2000 years ago. It was spread rapidly through the worlds tropics by Spanish and Portuguese soon after the discovery of the new world. Now it is cultivated in tropical and subtropical parts of several countries

15 like India, Hawaii, Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Australia, Burma, Myanmar, Israel, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc. Brazil is the leading producer of guava in the world. In India, guava is a major fruit crop of tropical, subtropical and arid region of the country. The important guava growing states in the country are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra, Gujarat, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan, though it is successfully grown in all over the country. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra are the leading guava growing states. Uttar Pradesh is the largest grower that produces best quality guava and Allahabad has the distinct reputation for growing the best guava in the country as well in the world. In Madhya Pradesh major guava producing areas are Jabalpur, Gwalior, Bhopal, Rewa, Neemuch, Ratlam, Khandwa and Mandsaur (Malwa region). In India guava occupies million hectares area with a production of million tone fruits per year. In M.P. Guava occupies about three thousand ha area and production thousand tones per year (Indian Horticulture Database, 2005). In India, guava occupies nearly million hectares area with a production of 2.27 million tones and productivity million tones per hectare and 2763 hectares area with a production of tones and productivity 20.0 tones per hectare in Madhya Pradesh (NHB, 2009). The fruit (Berry) is an excellent source of vitamin- C ( mg/100 g fruit pulp) and pectin ( %) but has low energy (66 cal /100 g). The ripe fruits contain % dry matter % moisture, % ash, % crude fat, % crude protein and % crude fiber. The fruit is also rich in mineral like Phosphorus ( mg/100 g pulp), Calcium ( mg/100 g pulp) and Iron ( mg/100 g pulp) as well as vitamins like Niacin ( mg/100 g pulp), Pantothenic acid, Thiamine ( mg/100 g pulp), Riboflavin ( mg/100 g pulp) and vitamin- A (Mitra and Bose, 2001).

16 Guava fruit is relished when mature or ripe and freshly plucked from the tree. Excellent salad and pudding are prepared from the shell of the ripe fruit. It can be preserved by canning with or without seeds. Guava has earned the popularity as Poor man s apple available in plenty to every person at very low price during the season. It is no inferior to apple for its nutritive values. It is pleasantly sweet and refreshingly acidic in flavor and emits sweet aroma. It is wholly edible along with the skin. Several delicious preserved products like Jam, Jelly, Cheese, Puree, Ice cream, canned fruit and Sherbat are prepared from ripped fruits of guava. Guava juice wine and guava pulp wine are also prepared from guava fruits (Bardiya et al., 1874). The seeds yield 3 to 13% oil, which is rich in essential fatty acid and can be used as salad dressing (Adsule and Kalam, 1995). In some countries the leaves are used for curing diarrhoeas and also for dyeing and tanning. Nature has endowed it liberally to tolerate the drought and flood condition and adoptability to a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. Its cultural requirement is also very limited. Besides other factors of crop production, nutrients play an important role. The present commercial varieties of guava viz. Allahabad Safeda, Sardar, Chittidar, Dharidar and Red fleshed are commonly grown in different agro-climatic regions. The performance of a particular variety in one agro-climatic region may not prove suitable for other regions due to their different requirement of fertilizer doses. Hence, it deserves utmost attention of a horticulture scientist to search the suitable fertilizer dose for a particular agro-climatic zone. Malwa is an important region in Madhya Pradesh, where guava is widely grown and several guava orchards are found in and around Mandsaur district. However, these guava orchards are declining in their productivity and one of the reasons for decline could be the lack of application of optimum doses of major nutrients. Therefore, an urgent need to find out appropriate doses of major nutrients for guava fruit crop to improve the productivity in this zone is felt. The existing variety (L-49) has a great extent on account of which there appears to

17 be a large variation in the yield contributing morphological a nd physicochemical parameters. Hence, there is necessity to find out the optimum major nutrient dose based on the performance of morphological, yield attributing and quality characteristics. Keeping the above facts in view, an experiment is to be conducted in Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (M.P.) with following objectives: 1. To study the effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on growth, yield and quality characters of guava. 2. To standardize the doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to improve the yield and quality of guava. 3. To work out the economics of the treatments.

18 CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE A successful cultivation of any crop envisages sufficient knowledge about the nutritional requirements of the plant. The response and requirement of various nutrients differ widely on the agro-climatic conditions and management practices. Plants absorb a large number of elements from the soil and atmosphere. Some of these elements are directly involved in the nutrition of the plant and deficiency of them makes it impossible for the plant to complete its life cycle. These elements are known as essential elements for plant life (Arnon, 1950). A good deal of research work has been done in India and abroad to evaluate the response of guava to applied NPK fertilizers. However, relatively little published information is available concerns the effect of the interaction of different doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Further, the information on these aspects under agro climatic conditions of Malwa region is very meager. The up to date literature available on these aspects have been reviewed in this chapter under the following heads: Effect of Nitrogen: Doraipandian and Shanmugavelu (1972) were studied the mean yield of guava cv. Bangalore increases of 12.6% and 45.3%, respectively when sprayed with 1% and 2% urea during the pre-flowering stage. There was also a slight increase in the ascorbic acid content of fruit from trees sprayed at the higher rate. Singh and Rajput (1977) reported that, reducing, total sugar and ascorbic acid contents were raised by urea at all concentrations, 4% being the most effective on guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. Singh and Rajput (1981) reported that, leaf N increased with urea concentration but fruit yield was highest at the 4% rate in 18-year-old trees of the guava cv. Allahabad Safeda.

19 Singh et al. (1983) reported that, the largest fruits (125.8g) of the best quality (14.4% TSS and 8.2% total sugar) were produced on guava trees treated with 3% urea + 0.3% boric acid. Higazi et al. (1984) reported that, the lower rates of Irral and Urea, improved fruit set, reduced fruit drop and increased yield in relation to the control. Irral, at both concentrations (1500 and 3000 ppm), improved the fruit physical and chemical indices, with urea having no appreciable effect in fifteen year old trees of guava cv. Baladi. Mansour et al. (1985) reported that, the first year urea at 2 and 4% increased fruit set but at 6% decreased it. In the second year the 1 and 2% concentrations increased fruit set but the 3% decreased it. In the first year 2% urea gave the highest yield (29.9 kg/tree) and in the second year 1% urea did so (21.5 kg/tree). The control yields were 20.9 and 16.0 kg/tree in the first and second year, respectively in 17-year-old guava trees. Singh (1985) reported that, the foliar application of 4 and 6% urea increased the length of the terminal shoot, the numbers of flowers and leaves/shoot, the leaf area/shoot, fruit retention, fruit weight and diameter and fruit yield/tree over controls, and reduced the duration of flowering. The weight of seeds/fruit was unaffected. Mean yields were 56, 62.2 and 67.3 kg/tree for the control, 4% and 6% treatments, respectively. Urea treatment also improved fruit quality by increasing the TSS, sugar, ascorbic acid and pectin contents and reducing fruit acidity. Tassar et al. (1989) reported that, the longest terminal shoot length (16.95 cm) and highest fruit TSS and acidity obtained by application of 600 g N/tree and the highest fruit yield ( kg/tree) and ascorbic acid and total sugars contents obtained by application of 400 g N/tree in the winter season. Natale et al. (1996) studied the positive response in fruit yield to applied N increased with time, analysis showing that the optimum rate, in economic terms, was 131 kg and 199 kg/ha, respectively. Ahmad et al. (1998) studied the effect of foliar application of urea on the yield and quality of guavas cv. Allahabad Safeda. Significant increases in yield and fruit quality were observed with increasing urea concentration up to

20 2%. The highest fruit retention (39.6%), yield/tree (40.2 kg), average fruit weight (230.5 g), T.S.S. (14.6%), ascorbic acid content (208.5 mg/100 g) and pectin content (0.88%) and the lowest acidity (0.3%) were observed in the 2% urea treatment. Ram et al. (1999) reported that, significant increase in vegetative growth was recorded with 600 g neem-coated urea in 3-year-old guava cv. Sardar. The application of 600 g neem-coated urea produced 102 fruits in the first year and 125 fruits in the second year, weighing 28.3 kg and 31.9 kg/tree, respectively, and the highest yields 7.8 and 8.8 t/ha, respectively. Fruit quality was also improved with the application of slow-releasing fertilizers. Total soluble solids at Brix and 4.5% reducing sugars were recorded with 600 g neem-coated urea. Ascorbic acid content (326.7 mg/100 g fruit and mg/100 g fruit) was highest with 600 g neem-coated urea. Acidity in fruits was not affected by the different levels of nitrogen. Bhatia et al. (2001) were evaluated the effect of N on the yield and quality of guava cv. L-49. All treatments gave significantly higher values for all parameters compared with the control. N at 600 g/plant was identified as the best treatment, as it gave high values for fruit weight (125 g), yield (49.8 kg/plant), total soluble solids ( Brix), acidity (0.50%) and ascorbic acid (197 mg/100 g pulp). Dubey et al. (2001) reported that, an increase in urea spray up to 15% increased shoot growth and decreased at 20% in 10-year-old guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. The yield in winter season was the maximum with 15% urea spray. The maximum fruit size was obtained with 15% urea spray. As the concentration of the urea increased, the total soluble solids and total sugar content of the fruits increased up to 15% urea spray but decreased at higher concentrations. However, the higher concentrations of urea had an adverse effect on the ascorbic acid content of the fruit. The acidity content of fruits decreased with urea up to 15% then increased. The pectin content of the fruits also increased with an increase in urea concentration but decreased at 20%.

21 Lal and Sen (2001) studied on fifteen-year-old guava cv. Allahabad Safeda plants were supplied with 0, 300 and 600 g N/plant to determine the effects of N on the fruit quality of guava. The total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, total sugar and pectin content, as well as TSS:acid ratio and ph in fruits linearly increased whereas acidity decreased with increasing rates of N. Yadav (2002) reported that, the application of 3.0% urea resulted in the greatest fruit length (5.51 cm), fruit diameter (5.11 cm), fruit fresh weight (96.6 g), flesh weight (91.1 g), number of fruits (677) and fruit yield per tree (62.3 kg), and in the lowest seed weight per fruit (2.74 g) and fruit specific gravity (0.972) in guava cv. L-49. Medeiros et al. (2004) reported that, the application of N fertilizer provided an increment in the weight and longitudinal diameter of the guava fruits and that there was no observed change in the transverse fruit diameter. Meena et al. (2005) reported that, the greatest fruit length (6.521 cm) and width (6.219 cm), fruit weight ( g), pulp/seed ratio (51.370), number of fruits per plant (346.67), yield of fruit (42.75 kg per plant), ascorbic acid content ( mg/100 g pulp) and total sugar content (8.293%) were recorded for the foliar application of 3.0% urea + 1.0% ZnSO 4. Jai Prakash et al. (2006) reported that, nine-year-old guava cv. L-49 were gave the highest yield (68.16 kg per plant) was obtained with 800 g N per plant. Effect of Phosphorus: Rajput and Singh (1976) reported that, increasing the P supply, by foliar application, gradually increased the leaf P content. There was a significant increase in yield with application of superphosphate as 2, 4 or 6% sprays. Singh and Rajput (1977) reported that, the flower bud numbers, fruit size and weight and yields were increased by superphosphate at concentrations up to 4% in guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. TSS, sugars and ascorbic acid contents were also enhanced, the 6% concentration usually being the most effective.

22 Tassar et al. (1989) reported that, leaf P concentration increased with P application rates but they had no marked effect on leaf N and K concentrations and fruit yield. Fruit quality was best at the highest P rate (600 g/tree) in 8-year-old guava trees. Natale et al. (2001) evaluate the response of guava cv. Paluma to phosphorus (P) fertilizers and reported that, the P in soil increased exponentially with P rates but no response was detected in P levels in guava leaves and fruit yield. Natale et al. (2002) reported that, the foliar application of P altered the concentration of the nutrient in the guava leaves (1.2 to 1.8 g of P /kg), but did not affect the production of fruits in guava cv. 'Paluma'. Natale et al. (2004) studied the effects of P fertilizer on guava cv. Rica and the results showed increases in P soil concentration in treatments receiving the highest levels of P. However, foliar P concentration and fruit production were not affected. Effect of Potassium: Ahlawat and Yamdagni (1981) reported that, the potassium spray at 1%, significantly improved fruit quality, particularly the contents of TSS and total sugars in 8-year-old guava cv. Sardar. Tassar et al. (1989) reported that, different K rates had no appreciable effect on fruit yield but the effect on fruit quality was significant, this was best with K 2 O at 300 g/tree in 8-year-old guava tree in the winter season. Natale et al. (1996) reported that, K application on one-year old guava trees cv. Paluma significantly increased fruit yield from a maximum yield in the 1 st year of 5.33 kg/ha (obtained with no K application) to a maximum yield of kg/ha in the 3 rd year (with 900 g K 2 O/plant). Ram et al. (1996) reported that, the tree girth, height and spread, as well as fruit weight and yield, increased significantly at K rates up to 400 g K 2 O/tree, but further increases resulted in only marginal enhancements in 5- year-old guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. Total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, reducing sugars and pectin contents of fruit juice increased significantly with

23 increasing K 2 O application up to 500 g/tree, while juice acidity decreased. Economic analysis showed that 682 g K 2 O per tree/year produced the maximum fruit yield (37.05 kg/tree) and net returns per tree (Rs 74.10). El-Sherif et al. (2000) reported that, the shoot length, fruit set, fruit retention and yield as weight or number of fruits per tree were significantly increased with 1 or 2% potassium sulfate sprays. Also, fruit quality was improved with all potassium treatments. Bhatia et al. (2001) reported that, the foliar application of K, increases fruit weight and yield. The ascorbic acid was found highest (182 mg/100g) with K 2 SO 4 in 15-year-old guava cv.l-49. Dutta (2004) reported that, K 2 SO 4 at 2% resulted in the greatest fruit weight ( g), fruit length (5.25 cm), fruit diameter (5.92 cm), yield (6.20 kg per plant), and total soluble solid ( Brix), total sugar (7.02%) and reducing sugar (3.98%) contents. K reduced the ascorbic acid content but did not significantly affect the titratable acidity of fruits in guava cv. L-49. Effect of NP: Singh et al. (1992) reported that, the highest yield (77.35 and kg/tree) and fruit ascorbic acid content ( and mg/100 g fresh pulp, respectively) were obtained with the 4% urea + 2% single superphosphate p.p.m. GA 3 treatment. This treatment also resulted in highest fruit TSS and pectin contents and lowest acidity in twenty-year-old guava cv. Allahabad Safeda during two seasons. Singh et al. (1993) reported that, Urea at 2 and 4% increased the ascorbic acid and pectin contents of fruits, phosphate at 2% increased the percentage of TSS, reducing and non-reducing sugars and pectin. Fruit quality was generally improved by the addition of urea, phosphate and GA 3 in combination in guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. Singh and Singh (1995) reported that, terminal shoot length, number of leaves, total leaf area/shoot and yield were increased (compared with controls) by application of 4% urea + 2% superphosphate p.p.m. GA 3 in 20-year-old guava trees.

24 Effect of NK: Mitra (1987) reported that, the higher dose of N improved the fruit weight by about 21% compared with controls and the TSS, total sugars, acidity and vitamin- C contents increased with increasing K doses. In the absence of K, annual application of 260 g N adversely affected fruit quality, reducing the total sugar percentages in 3-year-old guava cv. L-49. Ali et al. (1993) reported that, the highest fruit weight (84.67 g) and breadth (5.43 cm) were obtained with the 2% urea treatment and this treatment also resulted in highest fruit yield (21.83 kg/tree). All treatments improved fruit quality compared with the control. Highest TSS ( Brix) and total sugar (8.71%) contents and lowest acidity (0.97%) were obtained with the 1% K 2 SO 4 treatment. Highest cost:benefit ratio (1:9.58) was obtained with the 2% urea treatment in six-year-old guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. Walling and Sanyal (1995) reported that, N and K had no effect on fruit retention, but did influence the number of flowers; highest numbers were observed on trees treated with N at 125 g/tree and K at 200 g/tree (866 and flowers/tree, respectively). Highest yields were obtained from trees treated with N at 250 g/tree and N (250 g/tree) + K (200 g/tree) (82.6 and kg/tree, respectively). Highest fruit ascorbic acid contents were observed from trees treated with N at 250 g/tree and N (240 g/tree) + K (100 g/tree) (168.2 and 190 mg/100 g, respectively). The highest fruit TSS concentration was observed from trees treated with N (375 g/tree) + K (200 g/tree) (9.6 Brix) in guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. Teran et al. (1996) reported that, significant difference in number of fruits, fruit size and fruit weight per plant with the level of N applied, but no significant responses were observed to different levels of K application or to the NK combinations. The application of 200 g N gave the best results but was not statistically different from 150 g N per plant. A low dose of K (50 g/plant) is recommended. Ide et al. (1997) reported that, the fruit weight, number of fruits/tree and yield/tree increased from g, 64.0 and kg with no N to g, 74.8 and kg when a total of 150 g N/m 2 and 178.7, 93.8 and kg

25 with a total application rate of 300 g N/m 2 in guava cv. Paluma. The application of K fertilizer at up to 270 g/m 2 did not significantly affect production, fruit weight or fruit number. There was no significant interaction between N and K fertilizer application. Tomar et al. (1998) reported that, N and K application improved values for the yield attributes and yield/plant over the control. N and K application also increased the TSS, reducing sugars, acidity, and pulp:seed ratio. N rate had no significant effect on total sugar content while increasing K increased the total sugar content in 7-year-old guava cv. Gwalior-27. Tomar et al. (1999) reported that, the foliar application of N and K increased the yield attributes and yield per plant. The highest yield was recorded from foliar application of 2% N and 0.5% K. Highest TSS and sugar percentage occurred with application of 1% N and 0.5% K in guava cv. Gwalior-27. Dutta and Banik (2007) reported that, the highest cost:benefit ratio of 1:34.92 was obtained with the spraying of urea + K 2 SO 4 + Zn + NAA followed by 1:34.06 with urea application. Maximum TSS ( Brix) and total sugar (7.25%) were obtained with K 2 SO 4 treatment in guava cv. Sardar. Lima et al. (2008) reported that, the higher doses of N and K induced higher yields. Nevertheless, fertilization with 200 kg of N+100 kg of K per hectare improved fruit quality, delaying ascorbic acid breakdown and conserving pulp firmness in guava cv. 'Paluma'. Pal et al. (2008) reported that, the fruit size, in terms of both length and breadth, was significantly increased by foliar application of 2.0% urea. The weight and volume were maximum under 2.0% urea, followed by 1.0% urea. Guava yield was maximum under 2.0% urea, which was closely followed by 1.0% urea. Maximum specific gravity of fruit (1.19) was observed upon spraying 1.0% urea. Total soluble solid was the maximum in 1.0% urea. However, 0.5% K 2 SO 4 proved equally good in guava cv. Sardar. Effect of NPK: Mitra and Bose (1985) reported that, the highest yield of 42.8 kg/tree was obtained with N:P:K at 260:160:260 g/tree, and N:P:K at 260:320:260

26 g/tree gave the highest individual fruit weight (174.4 g). K increased TSS, and N at high rates decreased TSS, whereas P had no marked effect on the 3- year-old guava tree. Wagh and Mahajan (1987) studied the trees received N at g, P 2 O 5 at 0, 300 g and K 2 O at 0, 300 g/tree, and the effects on fruit chemical composition were assessed. Fruit quality was best when the trees received N: P 2 O 5 : K 2 O at 600:300:300 g/tree. Koen et al. (1990) reported that, the highest yield was obtained with annual application rates of calcium ammonium nitrate at 800 g/tree, super phosphate at 300 g/tree and KCl at 400 g/tree. Fruit size was little affected by N and K application rates, but higher P rates had an adverse effect in 10-yearold guava cv. Fan Retief. Ghosh (1991) reported that, increasing the N, P or K rates each increased yields. N application at 225 g/tree gave 84.6% higher yields than N application at 100 g/tree respectively. Fruit TSS and total sugars contents were increased by increases in the N and K application rates, but were not influenced by changes in P rate in three-year-old guava cv. Lucknow-49 trees. Sharma and Sharma (1992) reported that, the highest number of leaves/shoot (10.01), terminal shoot length (14.76 cm), fruit set (62.0%), fruit retention (30.50%) and fruit yield (28.36 kg/tree) were obtained with the 3% N, 1% P and 1% K treatment combination. All treatments resulted in increased growth and yield compared with the control in 5-year-old guava trees. Natale et al. (1995) were applied N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O to one-year-old guava trees cv. Rica and Paluma. Each was applied at g/tree in the first year of the trial and at double and triples these rates in the second and third years, respectively. Brix values were analysed after each harvest. None of the treatments had any effect on Brix values, which ranged between 8.0 and 10.8 for Rica fruits and 8.4 and 9.65 for Paluma fruits in both the years. Ke-Lih Shang et al. (1997) reported that, the fruit yield and weight increased with increasing rates of N, P and K, except when N was applied at a rate higher than 200 g/plant. Fruit yield, weight and quality were best when

27 the trees received N:P 2 O 5 :K 2 O at 200:100:400 g/tree in four-year-old guava cv. Thai-Kou-Bar. Kotur et al. (1997) reported that, the highest fruit yield was obtained at 583 g N/plant, 271 g P/plant and 399 g K/plant, and at leaf concentrations of 1.89% N, 0.16% P and 2.34% K. The leaf nutrient composition associated with maximum fruit yield was % N, % P, % K, in guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. Zang and Lei (2000) reported that, fertilizer requirement for high production of guava in India, NPK is applied in the ratio 1:0.46:0.68 (0.583 kg N, kg P and kg K). Uma Shankar et al. (2002) reported that, the highest fruit yield during winter season, was obtained with 450 g N g P 2 O g K 2 O applied in two equal doses before flowering and after fruit set. During the winter seasons, the highest total soluble solid Brix, ascorbic acid mg/100 g, reducing sugar % and total sugar % contents were obtained with the application of N + P 2 O 5 + K 2 O at g per plant in guava cv. Sardar. Al-Qurashi (2005) studied the effect of foliar spraying of N:P:K at 18:18:18, 10:44:10 and 10:10:35 ppm on the growth and nutrition of guava was investigated. All foliar fertilizers increased the growth parameters compared to the control. The growth parameters increased more with N:P:K at 18:18:18 ppm than the others. Khattak et al. (2005) reported that, 4 kg NPK mixture (10:20:20) per tree gave the maximum plant height (19.26 cm), plant spread (19.22), fruit per tree (369) and yield (33.2 kg/tree) and the lowest fruit drop (52.6) in guava cv. Karela. Kundu et al. (2007) reported that, treatments with higher concentrations of urea were found very effective in increasing the number of fruits, yield, individual fruit weight and the size of fruit in guava cv. L-49. The response of calcium phosphate and muriate of potash was higher when combined with higher doses of urea. The maximum yield (48.09 kg/plant) was recorded by combined spraying of 3% urea and 2% each of calcium

28 phosphate and muriate of potash, while spraying with 3% urea in combination with calcium phosphate (2%) and muriate of potash (1%) showed the maximum individual fruit weight (157.1 g). The quality of fruits showed marked improvement by spraying with higher doses of muriate of potash alone or in combination with urea and calcium phosphate. Combined spraying of urea (1%) calcium phosphate (2%) and muriate of potash (2%) and urea (3%) along with calcium phosphate (1%) and muriate of potash (2%) showed maximum TSS ( Brix) and ascorbic acid (252.4 mg/ 100 g pulp), respectively. Kumar et al. (2008) studied various combinations of NPK on fruiting, yield and fruit quality in guava cv. Pant Prabhat in a field experiment, over two years. Treatments with higher nitrogen level attained maximum yield and fruiting compared to treatments with lower nitrogen levels, in combination with phosphorus and potassium. Maximum yield of 22.66, kg/plant and fruit set of 34.73%, 35.65% were recorded with 150 g N, 50 g P 2 O 5 and 75 g K 2 O/plant/year in the winter season in both years, respectively, while treatment combinations with high potassium level recorded higher ascorbic acid and sugar content in the fruit. Kumar et al. (2009) studied yield and quality of guava cv. Allahabad Safeda. The maximum plant height was recorded under 900 g nitrogen/tree, but it was at par with 600 g nitrogen/tree. Maximum stem diameter, canopy spread, fruit yield and TSS were recorded under 900 g potassium/tree/year, which was at par with 600 g potassium/tree. Vegetative growth, fruit yield and quality were drastically reduced in control plots due to non-application of fertilizers. It was concluded that 600 g N, 300 g P and 600 g K per plant per year is the most appropriate and sustainable dose for getting good growth and yield.

29 CHAPTER III MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment entitled Optimization of NPK for Growth, Yield and Quality of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49 Under Malwa Plateau Conditions was conducted during at the Department of Fruit Science, K.N.K. College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (M.P.). The methods employed during the course of investigation and materials utilized have great significance in research programme. The details of material used and techniques employed in carrying out the investigation are described under the following heads: 3.1 Location: The experiment was conducted at the Department of Fruit Science, K.N.K. College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (M.P.), Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior (M.P.). 3.2 Climatic Condition: Mandsaur is situated at to N latitude and to E longitudes at an altitude of 435 m MSL. It has a subtropical climate with hot summer and cool winter. The temperature rises up to 46 0 C during summer and falls to C during winter with an occasional occurrence of frost. The average rainfall is mm, most of which occurred during July to September, winter and summer rain are uncommon. The meteorological data such as maximum and minimum temperature ( C to C), Relative humidity (63.16%) and rainfall (92.56 mm) were recorded during the experimental period are presented in Table 1 and graphically represented in Fig Soil condition: The soil of the orchard is reach in organic matter, black in colour, little heavier and possesses good water holding capacity. The available content of nutrients in soil is given in the Table 2.

30 Table 1: Weekly meteorological observations during the study period (June January 2011) Week No. Duration Average weekly Temperature Min. ( 0 C) Max. ( 0 C) Relative Humidity (%) Weekly Rainfall (mm) 22 01June-06 June Nil June-13 June Nil June- 20 June Nil June- 27 June June- 04 July July- 11 July July- 18 July July- 25 July July- 01 Aug Aug- 08 Aug Aug- 15 Aug Aug- 22 Aug Aug- 29 Aug Aug- 05 Sep Sep- 12 Sep Sep- 19 Sep Sep- 26 Sep Nil Sep- 03 Oct Nil Oct- 10 Oct Oct- 17 Oct Nil Oct- 24 Oct Nil Oct- 31 Oct Nil Nov- 07 Nov Nil Nov- 14 Nov Nil Nov- 21 Nov Nil Nov- 28 Nov Nov- 05 Dec Nil Dec- 12 Dec Nil Dec- 19 Dec Nil Dec- 26 Dec Nil Dec- 02 Jan Nil 1 03 Jan- 09 Jan Nil 2 10 Jan- 16 Jan Nil

31 Meteorological data Fig. 1: Weekly meteorological observations during the study period (June January 2011) W 22 W 23 W 24 W 25 W 26 W 27 W 28 W 29 W 30 W 31 W 32 W 33 W 34 W 35 W 36 W 37 W 38 W 39 W 40 W 41 W 42 W 43 Standard Meteorological Weeks (SMW) W 44 W 45 W 46 W 47 W 48 Min. temp. (0C) Max. temp. (0C) Relative Humidity (%) Rainfall (mm) W 49 W 50 W 51 W 52 W 1 W 2

32 Table 2: Chemical analysis of soil S. No. Chemical Contents Remarks 1 Available nitrogen (kg/ha) Low 2 Available P 2 O 5 (kg/ha) Medium 3 Available K 2 O (kg/ha) High 4 ph 7.90 Normal 5 Electrical conductivity (mm mho/cm) Normal Table 3: Source and amount of nutrient used as treatment S. No. Fertilizer/Nutrient Amount of nutrient (g/tree) Amount of fertilizer (g/tree) 1 Urea (N) Single Super phosphate (P 2 O 5 ) 3 Muriate of potash (K 2 O) Number of plant per treatment = 1 Age of tree = 6 years

33 Table 4: Details of treatment combinations S. No. Treatment Treatment Levels combination N P K 1 T 1 N 0 P 0 K T 2 N 0 P 0 K T 3 N 0 P 0 K T 4 N 0 P 1 K T 5 N 0 P 1 K T 6 N 0 P 1 K T 7 N 0 P 2 K T 8 N 0 P 2 K T 9 N 0 P 2 K T 10 N 1 P 0 K T 11 N 1 P 0 K T 12 N 1 P 0 K T 13 N 1 P 1 K T 14 N 1 P 1 K T 15 N 1 P 1 K T 16 N 1 P 2 K T 17 N 1 P 2 K T 18 N 1 P 2 K T 19 N 2 P 0 K T 20 N 2 P 0 K T 21 N 2 P 0 K T 22 N 2 P 1 K T 23 N 2 P 1 K T 24 N 2 P 1 K T 25 N 2 P 2 K T 26 N 2 P 2 K T 27 N 2 P 2 K N= Nitrogen, P= Phosphorus, K= Potassium, T= Treatment

34 W Fig. 2: Layout of the trial S N E T 1 T 6 T 7 T 14 T 15 T 2 T 5 T 8 T 13 T 16 T 3 T 4 T 9 T 12 T 17 T 4 T 3 T 10 T 11 T 18 T 5 T 2 T 11 T 10 T 19 T 6 T 12 T 9 T 20 T 7 T 13 T 8 T 21 T 8 T 27 T 14 T 7 T 22 T 9 T 26 T 15 T 6 T 23 T 10 T 25 T 16 T 5 T 24 T 11 T 24 T 17 T 25 T 12 T 23 T 18 T 26 T 13 T 22 T 19 T 1 T 27 T 14 T 21 T 20 T 27 T 1 T 15 T 20 T 21 T 26 T 2 T 16 T 19 T 22 T 25 T 3 T 17 T 18 T 23 T 24 T 4 Replication- 1 Replication- 2 Replication- 3

35 3.4 Nutritional studies: Nutritional doses: There were three levels of each of nitrogen (0, 300 and 600 g), phosphorus (0, 200 and 400 g) and potassium (0, 300 and 600 g) (Table 3). The nitrogen was applied through urea, containing 46 percent nitrogen. The phosphorus was given by single super phosphate, containing 16 percent P 2 O 5. The potassium was given by muriate of potash, containing 60 percent K 2 O. Thus, in all there were 27 treatment combinations (3x3x3) and each treatment was replicated three times, providing total eighty one variant. The treatment combinations are given in Table Experimental design and treatments: The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (Factorial RBD) with three replications. The treatments consisted of three levels of each of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Thus were 27 fertilizers treatments with all factorial combinations. The design of the layout along with treatment allocation is shown in Fig Method of application of nutrients: The required doses of fertilizers were applied in the month of June. Full dose of phosphorus and potassium along with half dose of nitrogen were applied at that time, while remaining half dose of nitrogen was applied in the October month. For application of fertilizers the top soil around the tree equal to the leaf canopy of the tree was dug upto 30 cm and the fertilizers were uniformly mixed into the soil which was then leveled. Irrigation was supplied immediately after fertilizer application. 3.5 Observations: Observations on various morphological characters of plants and physical and chemical parameters of guava fruits with different treatments of fertilizers were recorded as per the methods given under different characters:

36 3.5.1 Morphological Parameters: The observations of morphological parameters of each plant of the experiment were recorded on the following heads Plant height (m): The height of the plants was measured (from ground level to the terminal shoot) with the help of measuring device at the time of fertilizer application and at harvest and calculation of increase in plant height during the experimental period with the help of following formula: Increase in plant height (m) = (P 2 P 1 ) Where:- P 2 = Plant height at harvest P 1 = Plant height at the time of treatment application Canopy spread North-South (N-S) direction (m): The spread of plants was recorded in N-S direction with the help of measuring tape in meters at the time of fertilizer application and at harvest and calculation of increase in canopy spread during the experimental period with the help of following formula: Increase in canopy spread (m) = (C 2 C 1 ) Where: C 2 = Canopy spread at harvest C 1 = Canopy spread at the time of treatment application Canopy spread East-West (E-W) direction (m): The spread of plants was recorded in East-West direction with the help of measuring tape in meters (same as Canopy spread in N-S direction) Canopy height (m): The canopy height was measured (from first branch of plant to the terminal shoot) with the help of following formula: Canopy height (m) = (Plant height Trunk length)