EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF CALCIUM NITRATE, SILVER NITRATE AND ZINC SULPHATE ON YIELD, QUALITY AND SHELF LIFE OF PEACH (PRUNUS PERSICA (L.) BATSCH) CV. SHAN-E-PUNJAB UNDER JAMMU SUB-TROPICS
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Date
2017
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Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Effect of foliar application of calcium nitrate, silver nitrate and zinc sulphate on yield, quality and shelf life of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) cv. Shan-e- Punjab under Jammu sub-tropics” was carried out at farmer’s field, Jakh, district Samba of Jammu province during the year 2015-16. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments consisting of foliar spray of calcium nitrate (1.0 %, 1.5 %, 2.0 %), silver nitrate (0.005 %, 0.01 %, 0.015%), zinc sulphate (0.25 %, 0.5%, 0.75%) and control (water spray) replicated thrice. The foliar application of nutrients applied at different concentrations of calcium nitrate and zinc sulphate neutralized with lime was sprayed twice i.e. immediately after petal fall stage and two weeks before harvest, whereas silver nitrate was sprayed first five weeks before harvest and second three weeks after first spray. 2.0% calcium nitrate was found to be most effective for minimizing physiological loss in weight (6.72 %) and decay loss (52.14 %) after 18 days of storage under refrigerated condition in peach cv. Shan-e-Punjab. Physical characteristics viz., fruit weight (71.65 g), fruit length (5.62 cm), fruit breadth (5.02 cm), stone weight (3.00 g), pulp weight (67.65 g), pulp: stone ratio (22.55), fruit firmness (14.73 lb/inch2), fruit volume (74.28 cc) and yield (65.21 kg/tree) of peach cv. Shan-e-Punjab were improved with the application of 2.0% calcium nitrate. Similarly, the chemical characteristics of fruits i.e. TSS (12.36 oB), reducing sugars (4.01 %), juice content (37.32 %) were better with the application of 2.0% calcium nitrate, whereas, polyphenol oxidase activity (341.00 unit/ml/min) was recorded minimum with the application of 2.0% calcium nitrate. However, the maximum value of total sugars (6.04 %), TSS: acid ratio (16.88) and non-reducing sugars (1.99%) were recorded with the application of 0.5% zinc sulphate, while on the other hand ascorbic acid (16.70 mg/100ml) was found minimum with the application of 0.5% zinc sulphate. It is thus concluded that fruits treated with 2.0 % calcium nitrate gave maximized yield, improve fruit quality and minimised physiological loss in weight of peach cv. Shan-e-Punjab.
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