High Density Orcharding of Guava (Psidium guajava L) cv. Lalit for Assam
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Date
2022
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Abstract
The present research work entitled, ―High Density Orcharding of Guava
(Psidium guajava L) cv. Lalit for Assam‖ was conducted at the Experimental Farm of
Horticultural Research Station, Assam Agricultural University, Kahikuchi, Guwahati
during the year 2017–2020 to standardize the planting density and to determine the ideal
NPK levels for high-density planting system in Guava for Assam conditions. The
experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomised Block Design (RBD) with 3
replications and two factors comprising of four planting densities i.e. S1 (4444 plants
ha-1), S2 (5000 plants ha-1), S3 (6666 plants ha-1), S4 (10000 plants ha-1) and three
fertiliser levels viz., F1 (50:25:15 g NPK plant-1 for first year and 110:55:45 g NPK
plant-1 for second year), F2 (60:35:25 g NPK plant-1 for first year and 120:65:55 g NPK
plant-1 for second year) and F3 (70:45:35 g NPK plant-1 for first year and 130:75:65 g
NPK plant-1 for second year).
The significant findings of the present experiment revealed that the high
density planting had a substantial impact on plant growth, yield and quality of guava.
The highest plant girth, canopy spread, number of branches, total number of leaves, leaf
area and leaf area index were recorded in the lowest planting density (S1), while the
maximum plant height was observed in the highest density (S4) during winter and rainy
seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The significantly higher number of flowers, fruits per
branch, highest fruit set and lowest fruit drop was observed in widely spaced
populations and the rainy season crop bear more flowers and fruits consistently for the
two years, while fruit set percentage was recorded higher in winter season as compared
to rainy season crop. The results also indicated that different levels of fertiliser had
shown varied responses to vegetative and reproductive growth of plants. The fruit yield
per plant increased significantly with decrease in plant population thus, maximum yield
(1.74 and 1.83 kg plant-1) was obtained in the lowest density (S1) and the minimum
(0.75 and 0.78 kg plant-1) at highest density (S4) respectively in the year 2018-19 and
2019-20. Further, the highest yield per hectare was obtained in planting density S2
(8.02 t ha-1) and S1 (8.15 t ha-1), while the lowest was recorded in plants under density
S3 (6.04 and 6.76 t ha-1). The physical and chemical attributes of fruit were found
significantly superior in lower densities during both years and the winter season crop
was superior to rainy season in terms of physico-chemical characteristics of fruit. The
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plants under the lowest population density (S1) yielded fruits with the highest length
(5.79 cm and 6.17 cm), maximum weight (124.34 g and 130.21 g), highest volume
(116.97 ml and 125.05 ml) and maximum pulp weight (113.39 g and 120.00 g). The
lowest number of seeds (223.10 and 231.41), minimum seed weight (3.87 g and 4.37 g)
and highest value of pulp:seed ratio were observed in the fruits of plants at the lowest
density. The widely spaced population (S1) produced fruits with the maximum ascorbic
acid, total sugars, non-reducing sugar, sugar to acid ratio, juice content and minimum
acidity during both years, while the highest TSS, reducing sugar and pectin content was
obtained in fruits from the plant at density S1 in 2018-19 and S2 in 2019-20.
The fertiliser level also impacted the yield and quality of fruit quite
significantly, the highest fruit yield per plant (1.54 and 1.64 kg per plant) and maximum
yield per unit area (9.06 t ha-1 and 9.73 t ha-1) during the first and second year of
investigation was obtained with the application of F3 level of fertiliser. Also, the plants
nourished with the highest level of fertiliser (F3) produced fruits superior in quality
irrespective of season or year. The plants under the lowest density (S1) had the highest
percentage of leaf NPK, while the maximum N (1.52% and 1.61%), P (0.26% and
0.28%) and K (0.62% and 0.63%) was found in leaves of plants treated with F3 level of
fertiliser. The total chlorophyll content of leaves was also varied markedly with
different levels of plant density and fertiliser, the highest value of chlorophyll content
(1.91 mg g-1 and 2.07 mg g-1) was noted in the lowest density (S1), while it was found
maximum in the highest level of fertiliser (F3).
The interaction of lower plant densities with the highest level of fertiliser
produced superior results in comparison to other combinations, the S1F3 and S2F3
treatment combinations resulted in higher yield with superior quality fruits. The highest
benefit to cost ratio was estimated to be 3.28 in S1F3 followed by 2.92 in the S2F3
combination. The guava plants grown at population density of 4444 plants ha-1 with the
application of 70:45:35 g NPK plant-1 in the first year and 130:75:65 g NPK plant-1 in
the second year exhibited optimum growth, higher yield with superior quality fruits and
gave higher profitability.