Split application of inorganic fertilizers for rainy and winter season crops in guava cv. L-49

Abstract

The number of fruits, yield, fruit size and weight of rainy season crop of guava cv. L-49 was significantly improved with split application of inorganic fertilizers. Application of 50 per cent higher fertilizers in three splits than control exhibited increment of 43.2, 34.0, 38.5 and 41.3 per cent in yield and 23.6, 27.5, 38.7 and 40 per cent in fruit weight during rainy season crop (2010 to 2013). In winter season, the consequent increase in yield was only 11.3, 6.4 and 20.7 per cent with the same dose and splits of fertilizers than control in 2010, 2012 and 2013, respectively. In winter season, the split application had no significant effect on fruit weight except during first year of application. The TSS of fruits in all treatments was not significantly affected except in winter crop of first year under recommended dose of fertilizers in three splits. The acidity of fruits during rainy season crop was also not influenced significantly except 4th year of observations, while, the fruits under T1 treatment exhibited highest fruit acidity during winter season of all years. The rainy season fruits obtained from plants with higher dose of fertilizers were significantly more palatable than fruits of control plants, while, the palatability rating of winter season fruits was higher in control during second and third year of observations. It was concluded that the fruit yield and quality of rainy season crop was significantly improved with higher doses of split application of inorganic fertilizers.