EFFECT OF ZINC APPLICATIONS ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF KIWIFRUIT (Actinidia deliciosa Chev.)
Loading...
Date
2023-07-14
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Due to the growing shortage of arable land and water resources, the expansion of the agricultural sector can only be accomplished by improving resource use efficiency while causing the least amount of harm to agroecology through the appropriate application of contemporary technologies. Nanotechnology is one of these that has the potential to transform the agriculture industry. At the Research Farm of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Chamba, for the two years 2021 and 2022, a study was conducted to examine the effect of zinc applications on the productivity of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa Chev.). Two Zn fertilizer sources viz., nano-ZnO and Zn-EDTA were evaluated in kiwifruit. The treatments were laid out in Randomized Block Design and replicated quadruply. The treatments comprised of T1: Recommended dose of nutrients (FYM: 40 kg, 800:600:800 g vine-1 NPK) {Control} soil application, T2: 100 % RDN + Nano zinc @ 60 mg l-1 (Foliar spray), T3: 100 % RDN + Nano zinc @ 120 mg l-1 (Foliar spray), T4: 100 % RDN + Chelated zinc @ 60 mg l-1 (Soil application), T5: 100 % RDN + Chelated zinc @ 120 mg l-1 (Soil application), T6: 100 % RDN + Nano zinc @ 60 mg l-1 (Foliar spray) + Chelated zinc @ 60 mg l-1 (Soil application) and T7: 100 % RDN + Nano zinc @ 120 mg l-1 (Foliar spray) + Chelated zinc @ 120 mg l-1 (Soil application). The soil application of chelated zinc at 120 mg l-1 has a synergistic effect on available N, K, Zn, Mn, on various Zn fractions as well as on the viable microbial count, microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase, and urease activity; however, soil available P, Ex Ca, Cu, Fe, and phosphatase activity decreased adversely. According to the results, foliar treatment of 120 mg l-1 ZnO-NPs had the best effects on soil Ex Mg and SO42-content, growth, flowering, fruit yield and quality traits of kiwifruit. Maximum leaf N (2.60 %), K (3.81%), Mg (0.49 %), S (0.47%), Zn (79.23 %), leaf area (172.36 cm2), annual extension growth (295.44 cm), advanced the flower initiation by 12-14 days, fruit set (88.11%) and yield (17.52 kg vine-1) were also recorded through nano-Zn application compared to other Zn analogues. This superior treatment also registered significant increase in A- size graded yield (7.14 kg vine-1), TSS (11.43 %), total sugars (11.04 %), reducing sugars (7.44 %), TSS/ acid ratio (21.63), ascorbic acid content (82.78 mg 100 g-1) as well as benefit: cost ratio (8.38). The study also concluded that the usage of nano-Zn has demonstrated positive impacts to enhance kiwifruit crop behaviour, suggesting that it may be an alternative to traditional Zn nutrient sources.