Growth, flowering, fruit dimensions and post harvest parameters of Morinda citrifolia as influenced by irrigation regimes and organic manures

Abstract

An experiment was carried out in Morinda citrifolia through split plot design with irrigation regimes on main plot (four levels) and organic manures on sub plot (eight levels) with two replications. Among the treatment combinations, M2S4 (100% WRc through drip irrigation + 50% farm yard manure (FYM) + 50% vermicompost (VC)) registered the highest plant height (148.74, 202.54 and 254.12 cm), number of primary branches (14.25, 26.32 and 33.74), number of secondary branches (21.89, 39.95 and 48.27), number of leaves (171.71, 429.52 and 875.31) and trunk girth (12.64, 22.58 and 28.07 cm) during vegetative, flowering and harvesting stages, respectively. The same treatment takes very less days for first flowering (340.78) and 50% flowering (357.45). For treatment combination, M2S4 (100% WRc through drip irrigation + 50% FYM + 50% VC) exhibited the highest score for fruit length (11.20 cm), fruit circumference (18.02 cm), fruit volume (179.68 cc) and shelf life (4.21 days) and lowest score for physiological loss in weight (4.16, 7.72, 12.38, 17.56 and 23.49%). Key words: Morinda citrifolia, drip irrigation, farm yard manure (FYM), vermicompost, growth, flowering, fruit length, fruit circumference, fruit volume, shelf life.