Biostimulants as Eco-friendly Inputs for Improving Yield, Fruit Quality and Orchard Soil Properties of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

Abstract

An experiment was carried out during December 2019–December 2020 to study the effect of different doses of commercial biostimulant formulations on yield, fruit quality and orchard soil properties of pomegranate. Eleven years old trees planted at 4.0×2.0 m2 spacing were selected for the studies. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 13 treatments comprising different doses of granulated biostimulant (100, 200 and 300 g plant-1) as soil application and foliar sprays of liquid biostimulant (1.5 ml l-1) alone or in combination. Results revealed that fruit yield, quality and soil properties were significantly influenced by different doses of biostimulant formulations. The maximum yield, fruit length, breadth, fruit weight, aril weight, total soluble solids, juice content, total sugars and lowest titratable acidity were recorded in trees treated with Biostimulant (B1) @ 300 g plant -1 as two soil applications of 150 g each+two foliar sprays of Biostimulant (B2) @ 1.5 ml l-1 (T12). However, maximum soil organic carbon, available N, P, K, bacterial, fungi, and actinomycetes, were observed significantly higher with Biostimulant (B1) @ 300 g plant-1 as single soil application+one foliar spray of Biostimulant (B2) @ 1.5 ml l-1 (T9) and closely followed by Biostimulant (B1) @ 300 g plant-1 as two soil applications of 150 g each+two foliar sprays of Biostimulant (B2) @ 1.5 ml l-1 (T12). Thus, biostimulant (B1) @ 300 g plant-1 as two soil applications of 150 g each+two foliar sprays of biostimulant (B2) @ 1.5 ml litre-1 (T12) was found as most effective treatment for improving yield, fruit quality and orchard soil properties of pomegranate.