Standardization of pruning intensity and integrated nutrient management in meadow orcharding of guava (Psidium guajava)

Abstract

A study was conducted during 2007–08 to standardize the pruning intensity and integrated nutrient management in guava (Psidium guajava L). Pruning of 25% previous season growth (I1) resulted maximum canopy volume (0.60 m3), flowers/shoot (50.93) during both the years. However, pruning of 75% previous season growth (I3) showed maximum fruit set (45.40%), fruit retention (44.55%), whereas 50% pruning of previous season’s growth (I2) resulted maximum leaf area of 56.30 cm2, fruits yield/plant 5.13 kg, with B : C ratio of 4.32. Use of 50, 20, 50 g NPK + 5 kg vermicompost enriched with Azotobacter + Aspergillus niger (F5) resulted maximum canopy volume 0.69 m3, leaf area (57.19 cm2), flowers/shoot (49.12), fruit set (45.79%), fruit retention (44.76). Interaction effect of pruning and integrated nutrient management showed that 50, 20, 50 g NPK + 5 kg vermicompost enriched with Azotobacter + Aspergillus niger + 25% per cent pruning intensity (F5I1) resulted maximum canopy volume 0.96 m3, flowers/shoot (57.83), while 50, 20, 50 g NPK + 5 kg vermicompost enriched with Azotobacter + Aspergillus niger + 75% pruning intensity (F5I3) resulted maximum fruit diameter 5.20 cm (polar) and 5.31 cm (equatorial), average fruit weight (158.06 g), average pulp weight (154.19 g), pulp seed ratio 39.93 during both the years. However, highest leaf area (59.46 cm2) and fruit yield was obtained with 50, 20, 50 g NPK + 5 kg vermicompost enriched with Azotobacter + Aspergillus niger + 50% pruning intensity (F5I2) 6.68 kg/ plant and 33.43 tonnes/ ha with B : C ratio of 4.33.