Evaluation of Bio-Stimulants for Active Growth, Yield and Shelf Life of Papaya cv. Red Lady

Abstract

Bio-stimulants, which are natural substances aiding plant growth and resilience, are comprised of various organic and mineral compounds, serving as eco-friendly tools for sustainable farming. The research study was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Agriculture at Lovely Professional University in Phagwara, Punjab, during the years 2023-24. The study employed a randomized block design with seven treatments replicated three times. Bio-stimulants were sprayed at 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after planting (DAP) on papaya plants cv. Red Lady to evaluate its effect on various growth, quality and shelf-life parameters. Various growth parameters including plant height, stem girth, canopy spread, petiole length of leaves, as well as floral characteristics such as days taken for flowering, height at initial flowering, number of flowers per node, fruit set percentage and yield-related parameters were evaluated. The study found significant effects of different bio-stimulant applications on papaya growth, flower and fruit production, fruit quality and shelf-life. Treatment T4 (RDF + Diatomaceous earth) showed notable improvements in growth parameters, while treatment T5 (RDF + Panchgavya) resulted in enhanced productivity, fruit quality and shelf-life. Overall, the study suggests that the application of Diatomaceous earth alongside fertilizers promotes vegetative growth, while Panchgavya application enhances flowering, fruiting and quality attributes, offering insights for optimizing papaya cultivation practices for improved yield and quality.