Integrated Nutrient Management in Manila Tamarind (Pithecellobium dulce): Growth and Yield Response

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Aruppukottai from 2019-2024 and laid in a Randomized Block design with four replications. The plots had nine treatments viz., T1    - RDF of NPK / Tree (1 Kg N, 2 Kg P and 1 Kg K), T2    - FYM 10Kg/Tree, T3    - Vermicompost 5Kg / Tree, T4    - 50% RDF of NPK, T5    - 50% RDF of NPK + 5 Kg FYM/tree, T6    - 50% RDF of NPK + 2.5 Kg Vermicompost, T7    - 50% RDF of NPK + 5 Kg FYM  +100 g Phosphobacteria, T8    - 50% RDF of NPK  +  2.5 Kg  Vermicompost +2.5  Kg FYM   + 100 g Phosphobacteria, T9    - Control. The variety PKM – 1 was used as experimental material with all normal cultural practices followed for manila tamarind cultivation during 2023-2024.  Three trees were selected from each treatment and replications for recording observations on Tree height (m), Girth (cm), Number of primary branches per Tree, no of secondary branches per Tree and Tree spread East – West and North – South (m). The soil application of 50% RDF of NPK (0.5kg N,1kg P and 0.5kg K + 2.5 kg vermicompost + 2.5 kg FYM+100g Phosphobacteria) performed superior and significantly increased in tree height (7.55 m), tree Girth (83.0 cm), number of Primary branches (5.0 tree-1), number of Secondary branches (22.0 Tree-1), and tree spread (6.30 East - West, 7.44 North - South).