Impact of Nutrient Application and Bagging on Development and Quality of Guava (Psidium guajava L.)

Abstract

Guava is a tropical fruit known for its unique flavor and nutritional benefits. Guava is also recognized for its potential health benefits, including improved digestion and immune system support. The benefits of using calcium nitrate and potassium sulphate spraying in guava includes improved fruit size, enhanced nutrient uptake, increased fruit firmness, and better overall plant health. Calcium nitrate promotes cellular development and strengthens cell walls, while potassium sulphate along with bagging aids in fruit development and improves water uptake. These sprays can result in larger, firmer, and healthier guava fruits, contributing to better market value and consumer satisfaction. Therefore, the present investigation was carried out at the Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh during the Rainy-2022-23 with a view to determine the effect of different nutrient applications and bagging on guava variety Allahabad Safeda for its growth quality and to work out the economics of various treatments. Under this experiment, overall, 10 treatment was prepared by spraying of different nutrients on plants and bagging of fruits with different polythene bags. From the above experimental finding it may be concluded that the treatment T7 (Ca (NO3)2 @ 2% + Bagging (Red colour Polythene) was found to be best in terms of physical parameters like fruit weight (147.27 g), fruit polar length (8.91 cm), fruit equatorial length (9.46 cm), fruit diameter (8.14 cm), fruit volume (697.02 cm3) among different treatment combinations of guava while T6 (Ca (NO3)2 @ 2% + Bagging (Yellow colour Polythene) and T9 (K2SO4 @ 2% + Bagging (Yellow colour Polythene) was found to be best in terms of quality parameters like TSS (10.12 °Brix), acidity (1.27%), ascorbic acid content (153.17 mg/100 g), reducing sugar (5.24%), total sugar (9.51%).