Effect of foliar application of chemicals on yield, quality and shelf life of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana lamk.) cv. Apple ber
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Date
2023-05
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CCSHAU, Hisar
Abstract
The investigation entitled “Effect of foliar application of chemicals on yield, quality and
shelf life of ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.)” was conducted at Experimental Orchard of
Department of Horticulture, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar during the year 2022-23.
Thirty nine uniform trees of ber cv. Apple ber were selected and foliar application of different
concentrations of potassium sulphate, calcium nitrate and ethephon were sprayed in the last week of
december and first week of january. The yield and quality parameters demonstrated a significant
improvement. The fruits that were harvested from the trees treated with potassium sulphate @ 2.5%
showed the greatest improvements in the yield parameters, including the number of fruits per tree, fruit
length, fruit breadth, weight, and total yield per tree. Significantly improvement in quality parameters
i.e. TSS, TSS/acid ratio, ascorbic acid and total sugar was observed in the fruits harvested from the
trees treated with potassium sulphate @ 2.5 % which was statistically at par with potassium sulphate
@ 2.0 %. while the minimum acidity was reported from the plants which were applied with potassium
sulphate @ 2.5 % and potassium sulphate @ 2.0%.
Pre-harvest application of different chemicals significantly influenced the quality parameters
except specific gravity and stone weight. The nutrient content was also significantly affected with
the application of various chemicals. The highest concentration of N and Ca content were found with
the foliar spray of calcium nitrate @ 2.0 % while highest phosphorous and potassium content was
found from the trees which were sprayed with ethephon @ 600 ppm and potassium sulphate @ 2.5%
respectively. The application of potassium sulphate, calcium nitrate, and ethephon did not significantly
affect the zinc content, but potassium sulphate @ 0.5% applied as a foliar spray resulted in the highest
zinc content. The physiological loss in weight and spoilage percentage, which are indicators of shelf
life, were also observed. Calcium nitrate @ 2.0%, caused the least physiological loss in weight, while
ethephon, @ 600 ppm, caused the greatest physiological loss in weight and spoilage percentage in
trees.