Effect of Foliar Application of B, Zn and Cu on Yield, Quality and Economics of Rainy Season Guava Cultivation
Sayan Sau *
Department of Fruits and Orchard Management, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India.
Sukamal Sarkar
Department of Agronomy, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India.
Bikash Ghosh
Department of Fruits and Orchard Management, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India.
Krishnedu Ray
Sasya Shyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Narendrapur, Kolkata, 700103, India.
Prahlad Deb
Department of Crop Improvement, Horticulture and Agricultural Botany, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal, 731236, India.
Dibakar Ghosh
ICAR−Directorate of Weed Research, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, 482004, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The study was aimed to investigate the effects of micronutrients fertilization on the growth, yield and quality as well as economics of guava fruits (cv. Allahabad Safeda) in new alluvial zone of West Bengal, India.
Methodology: A field experiment was conducted at Horticulture Research Station, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal during rainy seasons of 2013-14 and 2014-15. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with seven different combinations of three micronutrients (B, Zn and Cu) and a control (without micronutrient).
Results: Experimental findings showed that combined application of Boron (B) and Zinc (Zn) recorded the highest fruits number/tree (133) and fruit yield (12.63 kg/tree) amongst different micronutrient combinations. The same treatment also significantly increased fruit physical and chemical parameters like fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit pulp thickness, total soluble solids, ascorbic acid, and sugar content. Higher uptake of plant-nutrients and increased chlorophyll content in guava leaf were also recorded from the plants with combined application B and Zn.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that combined foliar application of B and Zn is not only most effective for getting higher production but also for better quality fruits in alluvial Gangetic plains of West Bengal.
Keywords: Psidium guajava, micronutrient, leaf nutrient, fruit weight, total soluble solids