Impact of Different Sources of Nutrients on Yield and Quality of Guava (Psidium guajava L.)

Abstract

The present investigatron was earned out at Horticultural Research Centre and Department of Horticulture of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut (U.P .) dunng the year 2006-07 and 2007-08, to evaluate the response of organic and inorganrc fertilizers on growth, yreld and fruit quality of guava. The experiment was conducted with 10 treatments of different sources of nutrients which were replicated thrice in Randomized block design with 3 trees as unit per replication. The significant improvement rn plant growth (height, stem girth, plant spread and tree volume). yield and frurt quality (fruit length. diameter, werght, TSS. ascorbic acid, acidity, TSS/acrd ratio. pectrn, reducing and non-reducrng sugars) was recorded with the applicahon of 800 600:600 g NPK + 25 kg FYM per tree per year (T7). The leaves obtarned from guava trees treated Wlth the same treatment (T7) had high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium followed by 800:600:600 g NPK + 5.00 kg vermrcompost per tree per year (Te) While the levels of boron. copper and zinc in the foliage was not signrficantly influenced by any of the treatments applied the application of 800:600:600 g NPK + 25.00 kg FYM per tree per year (T7), significantly improved the concentration of nrtrogen and potassium in the soil dunng both the years of investigation. However, the levels of copper, zrnc and phosphorus in the soil was not srgn1ficantly affected by any treatments During the year 2006-07 all the treatments were ineffective in improving the concentration of boron in soil, while the level of boron was 1ncreased s1gnificanUy wrth the application of treatment dunng the year 2007-08. The max1mum net return of Rs. 78848.63 and 90934.06 per ha was recorded under T1 followed by T8 treatment during 2006-07 and 2007-08. Net profit which was calculated on the basis of benefit cost ratio was also found to be maximum with T1 followed by Ta treatment On the bas1s of findings obta1ned dunng both the years of mvestigabon, 1t may be concluded that the growth, y1eld and quality of guava under Western U P conditions can be 1mproved significantly wrth the applicatton of 800:600:600 g NPK + 25.00 kg FYM per tree per year