GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF ‘PUYAT’ DURIAN (Durio zibethinus Murr.) AS INFLUENCED BY DIFFERENT TYPES OF FERTILIZER APPLICATION

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different types of fertilizer application on the growth and flowering of ‘Puyat Durian’ (Durio Zibethenus Murr.); and determine the best fertilizer application for the optimum production of Durian. Ten (10) year old trees at Canoy Durian Farm, Pindasan, Mabini, Compostela Valley Province were tested from November 2015 to March 2016. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments, replicated three times. The treatments were: T1- Untreated; T2-Recommended Rate- RR (based on soil analysis); T3- Optimum Rate- OR + (3kg NPK+1kg MOP); T4- OR+ GOFF; T5- RR+ GOFF; T6- GOFF (Green-shield Organic-based Fortified Foliar Fertilizer).Statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences among treatments in terms of trees with flushes and number of flowers per cluster but no significant effects were observed in canopy diameter and number of flower cluster per tree. Result of the study showed that fertilizer application increased the number of flower per cluster of 'Puyat' Durian and enhanced flushing of durian trees. The study further revealed that organic based foliar fertilizer alone enhanced flowering up to five times higher than without application (control). While numerically, GOFF (Green-shield Organic-based Fortified Foliar Fertilizer) alone had the highest number of flower cluster per tree