Assessment of Different Iba Concentrations, Rooting Media and Time for Enhancing Survivability and Profitability of Air Layered Guava (Psidium Guajava L.) Cv. Shweta

Abstract

Guava is the fourth important fruit crop after mango, banana and citrus. It is hardy in nature. It is cultivated in India since early 17th century. Guava is considered as “common man’s apple” and ‘the apple of tropics’ because of its availability for a longer time during the year at very moderate price. Guava is propagated by both, sexual (seeds) and asexual (vegetative parts) methods of propagation. The propagation of guava through seeds should not be encouraged because the seedlings have long juvenile phase, give lower yields and bear poor quality fruits. In recent years, various techniques of asexual propagation have been studied and also employed to certain extent for multiplication of superior strains, which are capable of producing high yield. Air layering or goottee are becoming more and most popular on account of their safer, cheaper cost, rapid, simple and more convenient method with higher rooting and final survivability of guava. The present investigation entitled “Assessment of

Different IBA Concentrations, Rooting Media and Time for Enhancing Survivability and Profitability of Air layered Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Cv. Shweta” was conducted at Horticultural Research Centre, Department of Horticulture, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Modipuram, Meerut (U.P.) during the year 2019- 20 and 2020-21. The experiment as laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with Factorial concept, replicated thrice with fifty treatment combinations, comprising with five IBA concentrations C0 (Control), C1 (6000 ppm IBA), C2 (7000 ppm IBA), C3 (8000 ppm IBA) and C4 (9000 ppm IBA), five rooting media M1 (Sphagnum moss), M2(Cocopeat), M3 (Soil), M4 (Sphagnum moss + Cocopeat) and M5 (Sphagnum moss + Cocopeat +Soil) and two times of air layering operation T1 (July) and T2 (August). The application of 9000 ppm IBA+ (Sphagnum moss + Cocopeat) and August month is most effective to improve rooting behaviour parameters like- Callus formation(mm), Number of days taken for root appearance, average number of primary and secondary roots, average length of primary and secondary roots (cm), average diameter of primary and secondary roots(mm), fresh and dry weight of root(g) and rooting percentage. Growth parameters like, Number of days taken for new sprout, average number of new shoots, average length of new shoot (cm), average diameter of ne shoot(mm), average number of leaves, leaf area (cm2), fresh and dry weight of shoot(g) and total survival percentage were found most effective with application of 9000 ppm IBA, Sphagnum moss +Cocopeat and August month operation of air layering. Plant nutrient and biochemical parameters like, total nitrogen (% dry wt.), total phosphorus (% dry wt.), total potassium (% dry wt.), total carbohydrates (% dry wt.), total Carbohydrates: Nitrogen ratio, total starch content (% dry wt.), total sugars (% dry wt.) and total phenols content (mg/g) were most effective with application of 8000 ppm IBA + (Sphagnum moss

+ Cocopeat + Soil) and August month operation of air layering. Profitability of air-layered guava with application of 9000 ppm IBA+ (Sphagnum moss + Cocopeat) +August was most effective with highest net income and Cost benefit ratio. Therefore, application of 8000 ppm IBA with use of (Sphagnum moss + Cocopeat +Soil) and August month operation of air-layering can be recommended to obtained higher rooting and survival with maximum returns for air-layered guava cv. Shweta.