EFFECT OF ZINC, BORON, CALCIUM AND GA 3 ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) cv. DOUGLAS
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Date
2013
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Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand
Abstract
The strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) is one of the most important soft and delicious
fruits of the world. It is a native of temperate regions, but it has adapted well to different climates viz.
moderate, Mediterranean, subtropical even at high altitudes of tropical climate.
Botanically it is an aggregate fruit, widely appreciated for its characteristic aroma, bright red
colour, juicy texture, and sweetness. It is consumed in large quantities, either fresh or in prepared
forms such as preserves, fruit juice, ice-creams and milk-shakes. The fresh strawberry fruits are rich
source of vitamins and minerals. Strawberry contains about 0.55% pectin (as calcium pectate).It is
fairly good source of Vitamin-A (60 IU/100 g of edible portion) and Vitamin-C (30-120 mg/100 g of
edible portion). The mature soft fruit contains about 5.0% total sugar and 0.50%-1.85% acidity.
The crop is gaining popularity in the plateau region of Jharkhand, especially in Ranchi, due to
congenial climatic conditions, but there is lack of information regarding its cultivation, application of
secondary & micro-nutrients and plant growth regulators especially gibberellic acid.
The experiment was conducted during 2012-13 at experimental unit of the Ranchi Agriculture
College, B.A.U., Ranchi with seventeen treatments of different concentration of zinc sulphate (0.2 &
0.4 %), borax (0.1 & 0.2 %) and calcium nitrate (0.5 & 1.0 %) alone, combined and their combination
with GA3 (100 ppm) with water spray as control. Treatments were replicated thrice in randomized
block design. First application was applied at sixty days after transplanting and thereafter three times
at fifteen days intervals.
Result revealed that different concentration of zinc, boron, calcium and GA3 application
significantly affected the plant growth, yield and quality as well as shelf life of fruits. Maximum plant
height (28.46 cm), East-West spread (36.44 cm) & North-South spread (33.35 cm), no. of leaves
(32.27), leaf area (28.40 cm2) and no. of runners per plant (15.47) were recorded with zinc sulphate
(0.4%) + borax (0.2%) + calcium nitrate (1.0%) + GA3 (100 ppm) application.
The minimum days taken to first flowering (72.60 days), first fruit set (4.13 days), colour
development (2.13 days) and maturity of fruits (22.47 days) were also found with the application of
zinc sulphate (0.4%) + borax (0.2%) + calcium nitrate (1.0%) + (GA3) (100 ppm) combination.
Quality and yield attributing characters viz. the maximum no. of flowers (28.93), no. of fruits
(22.40) per plant and maximum fruit length (4.28 cm), breadth (2.88 cm), volume (10.12 cc), average
fruit weight (10.47g), juice (75.20%), TSS (13.33° Brix), acidity (1.108%), total sugar (8.62%),
reducing sugar (6.69%), ascorbic acid (67.65 mg/ 100g fruit) content and maximum shelf life of fruits
under ambient condition (3 days) were observed with the same treatment combination of zinc sulphate
(0.4%) + borax (0.2%) + calcium nitrate (1.0%) + GA3 (100 ppm).
Due to better vegetative parameters and yield attributing features, the maximum yield
(116.34q/ha) was obtained with treatment zinc sulphate (0.4%) + borax (0.2%) + calcium nitrate
(1.0%) + GA3 (100 ppm) which produced maximum net profit (Rs. 6,07,224/ ha) and the benefit cost
ratio was 2.09 as per the recorded observations.
So it can be inferred that significant increase in growth, yield and quality as well as shelf life
of strawberry cv. Douglas could be obtained by the application of Zinc Sulphate (0.4%) + Borax
(0.2%) + Calcium Nitrate (1.0%) + GA3 (100 ppm).
Description
EFFECT OF ZINC, BORON, CALCIUM AND GA 3 ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) cv. DOUGLAS
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