Journal of Environmental Biology

Efficacy of foliar application of nutrients on yield and quality of guava

S. Poojan^1,2, D. Pandey², A.K. Trivedi²*, A.K. Pandey³ and M. Pandey¹    

¹Department of Horticulture, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow ? 226 025, India

²ICAR- Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Lucknow ? 226 101, India

³Department of Fruit and Fruit Technology, Bihar Agriculture University, Sabour? 813 210, India

*Corresponding Author Email : ajayakumartrivedi@gmail.com

Paper received: 23.11.2019 ?????? ???????????????????????????????????????Revised received: 26.03.2020 ???????????? ????????????????????????????????????Accepted: 01.04.2020

Abstract

Aim: To assess the efficacy of foliar application of nutrients, i.e., calcium as calcium chloride and boron as borax on yield and quality of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Lalit fruits.

Methodology: Nineteen ?year- old uniform guava plants planted at 6x6 m apart were selected for investigation. Foliar application of calcium chloride (CaCl²) and borax (Na² [B⁴O⁵ (OH)⁴]?⁸H²O) was done as split dose application during first week of August and second week of September in the year 2017 and 2018. Nine treatments in toto viz., T₀ (Control), T₁ (Calcium chloride 0.1%), T₂ (Calcium chloride 0.2%), T₃ (Borax, 0.1%), T₄ (Borax 0.2%), T₅ (Calcium chloride 0.1% + Borax 0.1%), T₆ (Calcium chloride 0.1% + Borax 0.2%), T₇ (Calcium chloride 0.2% + Borax 0.1%), T₈ (Calcium chloride 0.2% + Borax 0.2%) were applied as foliar feeding. Effect of treatments was recorded on fruit length, fruit width, fruit volume, fruit yield (kg tree^-1), fruit specific gravity, total soluble solids, acidity, ascorbic acid, total sugar, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar content of fruit.

Results: Foliar application of calcium chloride @ 0.2% along with borax @ 0.1% was the best treatment combination among the all treatments for improving fruit yield (i.e., from 44.333 kg tree^-1 to 61.170 kg tree^-1) and quality of guava fruits (viz., TSS 7.613 - 11.670 ⁰Brix, ascorbic acid 155.457 - 176.343 mg 100g^-1 pulp and total sugars 5.383 - 7.547%)? in the environmental conditions akin to environmental conditions of Horticultural Research Farm of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow (India).      

Interpretation: Judicious application of calcium and boron as foliar spray might ameliorate adverse effects of soil and environmental factors and improve production and quality of guava fruits.       

Key words: Borax, Calcium chloride, Foliar application, Guava, Nutrients

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