Impact of Foliar Micronutrient Application on Fruit Set and Fruit Retention in Guava (Psidium guajava L.) Cv. Allahabad Safeda

Abstract

Foliar micronutrient application may improve reproductive and yield-related performance in high-density guava orchards. This investigation evaluated graded foliar concentrations of zinc and boron in guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Allahabad Safeda during 2021–22 at the Horticultural Research Farm, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The experiment was arranged in a randomised block design with eleven treatments and three replications under a meadow-orchard system. Treatments comprised a water-sprayed control and zinc or boron at 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1.0%. Foliar sprays were applied before flowering, after flowering and after fruit set. The treatments significantly affected flowering, fruit number, fruit weight and yield. Treatment T10 (1.0% boron) recorded 31.33 days from flowering to fruit set, 178.58 flowers per plant, 162.65 fruits per plant, an average fruit weight of 115.47 g, a fruit yield of 18.67 kg per tree and a total fruit yield of 93.46 t/ha. Treatments T5 (1.0% zinc) and T9 (0.8% boron) showed closely comparable performance for several recorded traits. The results indicate that foliar application of 1.0% boron was the most effective treatment among those tested for improving reproductive and yield-related traits under the study conditions. However, interpretation should remain limited to the single season and location evaluated and to the stated agro-climatic conditions of Prayagraj.