Effect of inorganic fertilizer dose and vermicompost on growth and yield of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Lalit

Abstract

The experiment was conducted on two years old guava at Research Field, Department of Horticulture, SHUATS, Allahabad, during the year 2016-2017. It was laid out in Randomized Block Design (R.B.D) with 4 replications and 11 treatments. The treatments included different levels of inorganic fertilizer and vermicompost. The maximum increase in plant height (155.71 cm), number of branches (25.23), canopy spread E-W direction (101.88 cm) and N-S direction (104.88 cm), was obtained with the application of T10 [50% RDN through chemical fertilizer +50% RDN through vermicompost (100:50:50 g NPK+1kg vermicompost)]. Maximum number of flowers/plant (18.25), fruit set (48.42%), fruit length (7.57 cm), fruit diameter (7.78 cm), volume of fruit (118cm3) and specific gravity (1.14 g/ml), were recorded with the application of T10 (50% RDN through chemical fertilizer +50% RDN through vermicompost), which was superior as compared to other treatments taken under present study. The maximum average fruit weight (128g) and number of fruits per plant (8.53) as well as significant highest yield per plant (959.14g) were obtained with the application of 50% RDN through chemical fertilizer+50% RDN through vermicompost (T10). The maximum total soluble solids (12.040Brix), ascorbic acid (180.89mg/100 g pulp) and minimum titratable acidity (0.51%) were recorded with the soil placement of 50% RDN through chemical fertilizer +50% RDN through vermicompost (T10), which was superior and economically viable as compare to other treatments with a maximum cost benefit (C:B) ratio of (1: 1.04).