Eco-friendly technologies for organic production of Dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis) grown in new alluvial zone of West Bengal
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Date
2025-01-03
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Department of Fruit Science, Bidhan Chandra KrishiViswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia – 741252
Abstract
Dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis) belongs to the Cactaceae family originally from
tropical and sub-tropical America is a climbing vine cactus species which has received
worldwide recognition. The fruit is well established in China, Malaysia, Vietnam,
Bangladesh. The fruit is newly introduced in West Bengal having numerous health benefits.
The flesh of the ripened fruits is soft and delicious, with tiny black seeds, and an eyecatching
crimson peel. Because of all the health benefits this particular fruit offers, its
popularity is growing daily in West Bengal. Dragon fruit has been shown to contain a wide
variety of phytochemicals, including carotenoids, polyphenolic compounds, and betalains.
Standardizing eco-friendly technologies is urgently needed for the production of dragon fruit
that is safe and organic. The organic fruits are safe, residue free and more nutritious than the
fruits grown under conventional system of cultivation. Eco-friendly production technologies
have standardized in many fruit crops like mango, litchi and banana, but very scant
information is available on dragon fruit. Keeping this background in view with a special
reference to soil health and eco-friendliness the present PhD programme namely, “Ecofriendly
technologies for organic production of Dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis)
grown in new alluvial zone of West Bengal.” was undertaken for two consecutive years
during 2020-21 and 2021-22 and it has been chalked out in three major experimental
components as mentioned below.
The first field trial involved one-year-old dragon fruit plant at the Horticultural
Research Station in Mondouri, Nadia district, West Bengal during the year 2020-21and
2021-22. Three distinct types of bio-fertilizers were used as the basis for the treatments, i.e.,
N-fixing, P-mobilizing and K-mobilizing. As N-fixing bio-fertilizers Azotobacter chroccum
and Azospirillum brasiliense were used, as P-mobilizing bio-fertilizers Phosphate
solubilizing microorganisms (PSM) was used and as K-mobilizing bio-fertilizer Potassium
microorganism (KM) had been applied. The treatments based on the use of different biofertilizers
were denoted by “T” i.e. T1- Azotobacter (200g)+ PSM (100g)+KM (100g); T2–
Azospirillum (200g)+PSM (100g)+ KM(100g); T3–Azotobacter (100g) + Azospirillum
(200g) + PSM(100g) + KM (100g); T4- Azotobacter (200g) + Azopirillum (100g) + PSM
(100g) + KM (100g); T5- Azotobacter (100g)+Azospirillum(100g)+ PSM(100g) + KM
(100g); T6- Azotobacter(200g) + Azospirillum(200g) + PSM(100g) + KM(100g); T7-
Control or no application of any kind of bio-fertilizers.
In the months of April and May, these bio-fertilizers along with 15kg FYM were
implemented in accordance with the treatments. They were applied at the vicinity of the
plants at the depth of 30.00 cm from the soil surface. In order to evaluate their effects on the
dragon fruit cultivar Royal Moroccan Red's vegetative growth, yield metrics, soil nutrient
status, and biochemical composition, a randomised block design was employed in this
experiment.
Integrated combined application of Azotobacter, Azospirillum, PSM and KM
consistently exhibited higher increase in cladode length, Canopy spread (both North-south
and East-West direction) and highest quantity of branches in a plant. These values were
documented as 285.81, 167.39, 166.27 cm and 7.99 respectively.
The highest marks of TSS was found as 15.09°Brix with the conjugal application of
Azotobacter, Azospirillum, PSM and KM. Total sugar and titratable acidity was also found
maximum of 13.70 and 0.16% respectively with the same treatment. It has also been noticed
that when Azospirillum, Azotobacter, PSM, and KM were applied to optimally ripe dragon
fruit, the ascorbic acid concentration increased to the greatest extent possible.
Different types of bio-fertilizers applied to dragon fruit showed to be commercially
feasible as well, with a higher overall profit of 2671.50 rupees per structure and a maximum
benefit cost ratio of 1.71.
The second field trial was carried out at the Horticultural Research Station,
Mondouri, Nadia district, West Bengal in one (1) year old dragon fruit plant during the year
2020-21 and 2021-22. The treatments based on the use of different kinds of organic
mulches. The treatments are as follows: T1- Geotextile mulch@ 500 GSM, T2- Geotextile
mulch@ 750 GSM, T3- Straw mulch, T4- Dry banana leaf mulch, T5- Water hyacinth, T6 -
Black polythene, T7- Control or no mulch situation. Each of the organic mulching materials
were applied as soil cover @1.00kg m-1 during both academic years of study (during
September). The dragon fruit cultivar Royal Moroccan Red was placed in a randomised
block pattern in order to evaluate their effects on the plant's vegetative growth, yield
characteristics, and soil moisture content.
Variations in the increment in plant height and stem circumference of dragon fruit
cv. Royal Moroccan Red was found noteworthy amongst the various types of organic
mulching materials used in the current investigation. The maximum increase in cladode
length (258.31 cm) and stem circumference (13.41 cm) during the two consecutive years
(i.e., 2020-21 and 2021-22) of study was documented with geotextile mulch@ 750 GSM.
Similar investigation outcome was also documented with increase in plant spread in either
direction.
Geotextile mulch 750 GSM resulted into the highest value of fruit weight (295.65 gm),
length (8.45 cm) and breadth (7.37 cm) along with the yield parameters.
Considerably the best result with respect to bio-chemical parameters of dragon fruits had
been found with the use of geotextile mulch @750 GSM, where the values of 14.34°Brix,
13.69%, 11.64%, 8.32 mg 100g-1 were obtained for the contents of TSS, total sugar,
reducing sugar, and ascorbic acid respectively.
The application of organic mulching treatments comprising different kinds of
organic mulches also proved economically viable too, fetching a higher net profit (Rs.
2610.50 /structure) along with a highest B:C ratio of 1.90.
The third field experiment was carried through at Horticultural Research Station,
Mondouri, Nadia district, West Bengal in one (1) year old dragon fruit plant during the year
2020-21 and 2021-22. The treatments were based on the use of vermicompost and different
organic manures viz. FYM and mustard cake. The treatments as followed: T1-
Vermicompost@2kg/plant, T2-Farm yard manure@3kg/plant, T3- Mustard cake@1kg/plant,
T4- vermicompost @ 1kg + FYM @ 1.5kg/plant,T5- vermicompost@1kg + Mustard
cake@500g/plant, T6- FYM@1.5kg/plant + Mustard cake @500gm/plant, T7-
vermicompost @1kg + FYM@1.5kg + Mustard cake@500g/plant, T8- Control or no soil
incorporation with any organic source of plant nutrient.
During the months of March and April, just before the monsoon season began,
vermicompost and these organic manures were applied to the soil. It was set up in a
randomised block design to assess their impacts on the cultivar of dragon fruit's vegetative
growth, yield characteristics, and soil nutrient status.
During the two back to back years (2020-21 and 2021-22) of research study, under
the influences of different source of organic nutrients, the increase in the vegetative growth
parameters of dragon fruit cv. Royal Moroccan Red, namely plant height, stem
circumference, canopy spread (in both East and West and North to South direction),
exhibited considerably highest values of 220.61 cm, 13.92 cm, 167.01 cm, 165.96 cm
respectively with the application of vermicompost @1kg+ FYM@1.5kg+Mustard
cake@500gm/plant.
The application of vermicompost @1 kg along with FYM @1.5 kg and mustard cake
@500 gm/plant exhibited the highest values for TSS content (i.e., 14.42°Brix).
The application of organic manuring treatments comprising different kinds of
organic manures and vermicompost proved economically viable too, fetching a higher net
profit (Rs. 2562.17/structure) along with a highest B:C ratio of 1.86.
Overall, the research's striking findings over the course of two years indicated that
the use of vermicompost along with FYM and Mustard cake as a source of organic nutrients,
with incorporation of Azotobacter, Azospirillim, KM and PSM and a soil cover with
geotextile mulch @ 750 GSM could be recommended as a standard eco-friendly
dose/technology for organic fruit production of dragon fruit cv. Royal Moroccan Red in
New Alluvial zone of West Bengal