INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN HIGH DENSITY GUAVA ORCHARDS

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Guava exceeds the majority of tropical and sub-tropical fruit tree in adoptability, productivity and tolerance to mild cold and night frosts, besides soil pH (4.5-8.2). Owing to high nutraceutical values of guava, there has been a growing consumer preference, resulting in expansion of area across the country. Among the various factors, which affect the production and productivity of guava, nutrient management assumes greater significance. An experiment was conducted on newly planted guava cv. 'Sardar' under high density planting system (625 plants ha -1 ) to evaluate the effect of different organic (neem cake, farm-yard-manure, vermicompost) and inorganic fertilizers as well as biofertilizers (azotobacter and azospirillum) on yield and fruit quality. Maximum fruit set of 71.4% and yield of 3.49 tons ha -1 was recorded by the application of 50 g N, 40 g P 2 O 5 and 50 g K 2 O plant -1 year -1 of age along with 5 kg neem cake tree -1 year -1 during the rainy season. During the winter season the application of 50 g N, 40 g P 2 O 5 and 50 g K 2 O plant -1 year -1 of age along with 10 kg of farm-yard-manure and 20 kg of azotobacter tree -1 year -1 recorded the maximum of 45.5% fruit set. Fruit quality (total soluble solids, total sugar, acidity ascorbic acid and pectin content of fruit) in both rainy and winter seasons were found superior in fruit from the plants receiving 50 g N, 40 g P 2 O 5 and 50 g K 2 O plant -1 year -1 of age along with 5 kg of neem cake tree -1 year -1 .