Nutri-hormonal Manipulation for Yield and Quality Improvement in Guava (Psidium guajava L.)

Abstract

Aims: To study the effect of nutrients and plant growth regulators through foliar spray on yield and quality characteristics of guava var. Arka Kiran. Study design:  Randomized Block Design (RBD). Place and Duration of Study: The experimental trial was conducted at a Farmer’s field in Theethipalayam village of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu during 2022-2023. Methodology: The current study included six treatments and three replications. Three-year-old guava trees with uniform size, growth, and bearing habit were chosen for imposing treatments. Observations on fruit yield, physical and quality characteristics of guava were recorded. Results: Fruit diameter (6.30 cm), Fruit weight (168.17 g), fruit volume (146.46 ml), fruit yield (16.53 kg/tree) and the number of fruits per tree (98.35) were recorded maximum in plants treated with nutri-hormonal spray-I. The best-quality fruits in terms of increased TSS (12.08), ascorbic acid (185.35 mg/g), reducing (3.15%), non-reducing (4.19%), and total sugars (7.35%) and reduced acidity (0.40%) were also recorded in the same combination. Conclusion: The foliar application of nutrients and PGRs spray-I can be advocated to improve the yield and quality attributes of guava.