Influence of pruning and foliar nutrient spray on growth, yield and fruit quality of fig (Ficus carica L.) cv. Dinkar under Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A study was carried out during 2021-22 and 2022-23 to assess the effect of different intensities of pruning and foliar spray of nutrients at varied concentrations on the growth, fruit yield and quality of fig cv. Dinkar. This experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (Factorial) with twelve treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of foliar spray of two nutrients namely calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate at 1.5 % concentration and three levels of pruning viz., 25 %, 50 % and 75 % on the plants. The pruning of the plants was done in the last week of December and foliar application was completed during last week of March (pea size stage of the fruit). The results revealed that the maximum value for annual shoot growth, leaf area, fruit yield, fruit size, fruit weight, fruit volume, fruit colour (L*, a* and b* value), specific gravity, total polyphenolics, total anthocyanins, flavonoids and TEAC were recorded with the treatment P₄F₂ (75% pruning + 1.5% potassium nitrate). It may be concluded that 75% pruning of fig cultivar Dinkar along with the foliar application of 1.5% potassium nitrate which increased the yield and quality of fruits would be a good management practice in production of fig.