Average Number Of Fruits Research Articles

Effect of four different types of vermicomposts on okra productivity and farm income

Organic based fertilizers is crucial for maintaining soil fertility, increasing crop production, and mitigating climate change. Among various organic fertilizers, vermicompost (VC) has been found to be one of the promising options for enhancing soil fertility and productivity. However, there are limited studies on the agronomic effects of vermicomposts in Nepal. In this study, a pot culture experiment was conducted inside a greenhouse to assess the agronomic and economic effects of four different commercially available vermicomposts, available in both reduced and original moisture forms, on okra. Nine treatments with three replications were arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD). These treatments included Divya vermicompost with both reduced (DvRM: 28.82 %) and original moisture (DvOM: 62.17 %); Praramva vermicompost with reduced (PvRM: 29.63 %) and original moisture (PvOM: 54.65 %), Bio-Comp vermicompost with reduced (BvRM: 26.75 %) and original moisture (BvOM: 49.77 %), Sathi vermicompost with reduced (SvRM: 28.52 %) and original moisture (SvOM: 65.18 %), and a control (CK: non-fertilized treatment). All VC treatments, whether in reduced or original moisture forms, showed better performance on plant growth parameters and fruit yield compared to the control. There was no significant difference between the four types of VCs, in either moisture form. The average number of fruits per pot in VC treatments (ranging from 5.5 to 8.0 fruits per pot) increased by 94 % compared to CK (3.5 fruits). Similarly, total fruit yield increased by 126 % in VC treatments (ranging from 16213 kg ha−1 to 23193 kg ha−1) compared to the CK (8260 kg ha−1). The benefit to cost ratio (B:C) of all the VCs was above 1 (B:C > 1), ranging from 1.00 to 1.59, illustrating the economic benefit of using vermicompost in okra cultivation. The findings suggest that farmers should consider the widespread use of vermicomposts to increase both crop productivity and farm profitability, thereby sustaining their livelihoods.

INFLUENCE OF DROUGHT STRESS ON THE FRUIT AND YIELD QUALITY OF THREE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF TOMATO (Lycopersicum esculentum L.)

Drought impacts various physiological processes in plants, ultimately affecting yield. The study aimed to determine the influence of drought stress on the fruit and yield quality of three different varieties of tomato namely; Rio, Dan Syria and UTC. The plants were subjected to four treatments which were subjected to 80-85% WHC (water holding capacity) (control, T1), 55-60% WHC (light drought stress, T2), 40-45% WHC (moderate drought stress, T3) and 30-35% WHC (severe drought stress, T4) and each replicated three times. The data generated were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). According to the findings, Rio outperformed the other varieties in terms of fresh fruit weight (21.59g), fruit pericarp thickness (3.96mm) and drought tolerance index (56.17%) under severe drought conditions. However, under severe drought conditions, the highest average number of fruits (2.33) was produced by the UTC, closely followed by Dan Syria (2). The results also showed that under severe drought stress, Rio outperformed the other varieties in terms of fresh and dry weight of shoot, as well as fresh and dry weight of root (18.82g, 3.47g and 3.34g, 1.29g) closely followed by Dan Syria measuring 12.47g, 1.66g, 3.10g, and 0.62g respectively. Under conditions of severe drought stress, Rio, UTC, and Dan Syria exhibit drought tolerance indices of 56.17%, 37.49%, and 20.44% respectively. These suggest that Rio is the most resilient to drought compared to the other varieties. Therefore, farmers should consider using Rio, which has a high level of drought resistance, as a means to mitigate the impact of drought.

In vivo Studies on the Effect of Warburgia ugandensis Crude Extracts Against Bacterial wilt in Tomato

Tomato plants are susceptible to Ralstonia solanacearum, a pathogen responsible for bacterial wilt, a severe soil-borne disease with no available cure. Warburgia ugandensis crude extract has shown biocontrol capabilities against pathogenic fungi and bacteria in animals, but data on its effectiveness in plants is limited. The current study was done to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of W. ugandensis crude extracts against R. solanacearum in tomato plants. W. ugandensis leaf and stem bark crude extracts were obtained using ethanol, methanol, hexane, and dichloromethane. The obtained crude extracts were tested against R. solanacearum in tomato at the greenhouse in triplicate. The data collected on bacterial wilt incidence, severity, stem diameter, height, and the number of branches and fruits set were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 5% significance level. Tukey’s test was employed to determine significant differences between means at the same significance level. Tomato plants established in soil inoculated with R. solanacearum and treated with dichloromethane crude extract of W. ugandensis stem bark showed no sign of bacterial wilt disease and were comparable to the positive control. Tomato plants established in soil inoculated with R. solanacearum but treated with W. ugandensis leaf ethanol crude extract had the highest average height of 62.50 cm which was similar to positive control. Tomato plants grown in R. solanacearum-inoculated soils and treated with methanol crude extracts from W. ugandensis stem bark produced a significantly higher average number of fruits, 22.00, compared to those treated with crude extracts from other solvents. The study proposed that W. ugandensis crude extract has the ability to be used as antibacterial biocontrol against R. solanacearum. Further research is important to determine the bioactive compounds against R. solanacearum.

PEMBERIAN PUPUK ORGANIK CAIR ECENG GONDOK TERHADAP HASIL CABAI RAWIT (Capsicum frutescent L.)

ABSTRACTLiquid organic fertilizer (LOF) is proven to be more effective than solid organic fertilizer because nutrient mineralization is more efficient, so nutrients are quickly available for plants. Water hyacinth, as a water weed, turns out to have many functions. Besides being able to become a biofilter by absorbing chemical compounds in polluted water, the accumulation results also contain mineral compounds that are useful for increasing plant yields. Therefore, it is necessary to review the results of applying LOF made from water hyacinth to cayenne pepper plants. This study aims to analyze the effect of various doses of water hyacinth extract on the yield of cayenne pepper. This study uses a non-factorial experimental method, a complete random design (CRD), with an analysis model of LSD test (Least Significant Difference Test) α 5%. There are 4 treatments, namely, 0 ml, 40 ml, 60 ml, and 80 ml, with 5 replications. The parameters observed are the number of fruits, the fruit weight, and the wet weight of the plant. The results showed that the water hyacinth LOF has a pH of 7, doesn’t sting, and is light brown. The best treatment for P3 or 80 ml of water hyacinth POC is that the average number of fruits is 10 seeds, the average weight of fruit is 2.04 grams, and the average wet weight of plants is 46.9 grams.

Chitosan from Mushroom Improves Drought Stress Tolerance in Tomatoes.

Chitosan is a derivative of chitin that is one of the most abundant biopolymers in nature, found in crustacean shells as well as in fungi cell walls. Most of the commercially available chitosans are produced from the exoskeletons of crustaceans. The extraction process involves harsh chemicals, has limited potential due to the seasonal and limited supply and could cause allergic reactions. However, chitosan has been shown to alleviate the negative effect of environmental stressors in plants, but there is sparse evidence of how chitosan source affects this bioactivity. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of chitosan from mushroom in comparison to crustacean chitosan in enhancing drought stress tolerance in tomato plants (cv. MicroTom). Chitosan treatment was applied through foliar application and plants were exposed to two 14-day drought stress periods at vegetative and fruit set growth stages. Phenotypic (e.g., fruit number and weight), physiological (RWC) and biochemical-stress-related markers (osmolytes, photosynthetic pigments and malondialdehyde) were analyzed at different time points during the crop growth cycle. Our hypothesis was that this drought stress model will negatively impact tomato plants while the foliar application of chitosan extracted from either crustacean or mushroom will alleviate this effect. Our findings indicate that drought stress markedly decreased the leaf relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll content, increased lipid peroxidation, and significantly reduced the average fruit number. Chitosan application, regardless of the source, improved these parameters and enhanced plant tolerance to drought stress. It provides a comparative study of the biostimulant activity of chitosan from diverse sources and suggests that chitosan sourced from fungi could serve as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to the current chitosan from crustaceans.

Morphological diversity and fruit production of wild Salacia kraussii (Celastraceae) on the Northern Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This study aimed to assess morphological diversity within Salacia kraussii, a fruit and medicinal wild plant species, based on morphological features and compared the fruit production among morphological types (morphotype) that naturally occur on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Following one species plant survey, a description of the qualitative morphological features revealed that S. kraussii individuals mainly differed in their leaf shapes, having elliptic, oblong, or obovate leaves. That led us to the identification of three morphotypes, namely Salacia kraussii ‘elliptic’, Salacia kraussii ‘oblong’ and Salacia kraussii ‘obovate’. The analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) of plant quantitative features indicated that plant height, stem diameter, branch number, leaf number and area, and fruit number were significantly different between plants from different sites (p-values < 0.05) and morphotypes (p-values < 0.01). Generally, S. kraussii grows in KwaZulu-Natal as a suffrutex with many stems and exhibits short plant height, small stem diameter, branches, and little foliage per stem. The average fruit number recorded per plant stem was likewise few. Plants growing in Sikhalasenkosi (site1) dominated in average plant height (35.58 cm), leaf number (45), number of branches (4), and number of fruits (5). Plants with elliptic leaves constantly dominated in average plant height (34.45 cm), foliage (36 leaves of 16.29 cm2 each), number of branches (4), and number of fruits (5). A few plants exhibited a strong vegetative vigor and produced more than 20 fruits. There was a highly positive correlation (CC = 0.8) between plant height and leaf number, branch number and leaf number, and branch number and fruit number. However, a negative correlation (CC = −0.1) was recorded between the leaf area and stem diameter. Overall, the study showed wide morphological diversity and fruit production within and between populations of S. kraussii, on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal.

Parâmetros físicos e de qualidade de frutos de novos genótipos de morangueiro

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate physical and chemical fruit parameters of new strawberry genotypes underfield conditions. The study was carried out during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Twelve genotypes from the breeding program of Embrapa and two commercial cultivars (Camino Real and Merced) were evaluated. The assessed parameters were: average fruit number, average fruit weight, soluble solids, titrable acidity, and the soluble solids/titrable acidity ratio. Among the studied strawberry genotypes, the 8-1, 35-22 ('BRS DC22'), 31-13, 7-5, and 32-2 selections produce more fruits per plant. Among the new genotypes, 'BRS DC25' (Fênix) and 31-13 present the best average fruit weight in both evaluated seasons. The highest sugar content is observed in genotypes 35-22 ('BRS DC22') and 65-2, whereas 8-1 and 'BRS DC25' (Fênix) show the highest acidity. The 7-5, 35-22 ('BRS DC22'), 34-2, and 35-6 genotypes present the best soluble solid/acidity ratio.

Pemberian berbagai komposisi bahan organik terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman kacang panjang (Vigna Sinensis L.) dengan sistem pertanian berkelanjutan

The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of optimizing organic matter and its composition on the development and productivity of long bean plants. The research was conducted from May to July 2023 at the location of Sampe Cita Village, Kutalimbaru District, Deli Serdang Regency. The method used in this study was a non-factorial randomized group design (RAK) repeated 3 times. The treatments consisted of P0 = Inorganic fertilizer (17 gr/plot N, 15 gr/plot P2O5, 15gr/plot K2O) as control. P1= Cow dung compost 1.5 kg/plot; P2= Paitan 2 kg/plot; P3= Azolla compost 1.5 kg/plot; P4= Cow dung compost 0.75 kg/plot + Paitan 1 kg/plot; P5= Cow dung compost 0.75 kg/plot + azolla compost 0.75 kg/plot; P6= Cow dung compost 0.35 kg/plot + paitan 1.5 kg/plot; P7= Cow dung compost 0.35 kg/plot + azolla compost 1 kg/plot. The findings indicated that the application of organic substances in various scenarios showed similar impacts on all growth and yield parameters. The longest average plant length for all organic matter treatments at 4 weeks after planting was found in treatment P7 (Cow dung compost 0.35 kg/plot + Azolla compost 1 kg/plot) which was 70.40 cm while at 6 weeks after planting and 8 weeks after planting was found in treatment P2 (Paitan 2 kg/plot) which was 222.98 cm and 279.04 cm. The highest number of productive branches against all organic matter treatments at 6 weeks after planting was P4 (Cow dung compost 0.75 kg/plot + Paitan 1 kg/plot) which was 5.28 branches. The highest average number of fruits per sample at 7 weeks after planting is treatment P7 (Cow dung compost 0.35 kg/plot + Azolla compost 1 kg/plot) which is 68.40 fruits, while at 8 weeks after planting and 9 weeks after planting is P2 (Paitan 2 kg/plot) which is 222.98 cm 279.04 fruits.

FEATURES PRODUCTIVITY FORMATION OF RED-FLESH APPLE VARIETIES

In the changing conditions of Transcarpathia, red-soft varieties provide high productivity and are less affected by diseases, which will provide a biologically clean technology for their cultivation. Most apples of red pulp varieties at first glance do not differ from the total weight of the fruit. Era apples do not have an intense skin color, but an intense color of the pulp. Fruits of Siren, Odysio, Baia Marissa red with different intensity of placement of lentils and rusting with white edging. Assessing the structure of the flower, it should be noted that almost each has additional pistils and highly developed anthers, which promotes self-pollination. All varieties are characterized by dark pink flowers with very abundant flowering. Rings are formed not only on short biennial branches, but also annual, which should be taken into account when pruning and normalization of flowering. Among the studied varieties, the Baia Marisa variety is the tastiest and with an intense color. It has a red flesh color due to the presence of a special pigment "anthocyanin", which destroys harmful bacteria in the human body and strengthens the immune system. The amount of anthocyanins is 2 times higher than in ordinary apples. Therefore, we offer it for widespread implementation in the production of dietary food. Assessing the economic and biological indicators, it is established that the load on the trees of the third and fourth year of fruiting is quite high with the formation of high quality apples in spite of the critical conditions of 2020. The average number of fruits per tree was up to 60 apples weighing from 188 to 203 g, which provided a high yield of Baia Marisa 33.7 t/ ha in 2019 and the lowest in 2020 30.5 t / ha. The lowest yield in 2019 was characterized by the Odisio variety, which yielded only 29.8 t / ha against 31.2 t / ha in 2020. Measuring biometric indicators, the required height of trees in the fourth year of vegetation was established. The height of the trees of the studied varieties was about 300 cm, except for the variety Sirena, whose trees reached an average of no more than 285 cm in 2019 and an increase in height by 20-25 cm in 2020. The diameter of the trunk is the best in the variety Sirena (232 mm) with the best growth during the year. In terms of the number of annual shoots, the Era variety is in the lead (58 pieces) and the average length of annual growth is 61 cm in two years of comparative evaluation. In difficult climatic conditions, new varieties with red crumbs stood out, the yield of which averaged over the above period 30t / ha of high quality fruit, which provided a selling price of 45-64 UAH. The level of profitability from the cultivation of these varieties was 167 256%. Efficiency indicators depended on the form of product delivery, sales and time of maximum sales. Such products are designed for sale in gift packaging with juices during the Christmas holidays, sale to restaurants for culinary decoration of meat and desserts. Keywords: apple tree, red pulp varieties, productivity, economically valuable traits, economic efficiency

Utilization of Water Spinach Harvest Waste as Liquid Organic Fertilizer and Compost on the Growth and Yield of Large Chili Plants (Capsicum Annuum L.)

The aim of the research was to determine the effect of giving concentrations of liquid organic fertilizer and doses of compost from water spinach harvest waste on the growth and yield of large chili plants (Capsicum annuum L.). The results of the research showed that the administration of various concentrations of LOF and doses of compost from kale harvest waste had a significant effect on the height of large chili plants (Capsicum annuum L.) at 84 DAP, and had no significant effect on the number of leaves at 84 DAP, flowering age, number of flowers and the number of large chili plants (Capsicum annuum L.). The combination of 5 ml/l LOF and no compost (P1K0) treatment resulted in the highest average plant height at 84 DAP (38.33 cm), and the highest average number of plant leaves (56.00). The combination of treatment with a LOF concentration of 5 ml/l and the addition of 250 g compost per plant (P1K1) resulted in the fastest average flowering age (18.67 DAP). The combination of treatment with a LOF concentration of 10 ml/l and the addition of 250 g compost per plant (P2K1) produced the highest average number of flowers (10.33 pieces) and also produced the highest average number of fruit (2.33 pieces).

Assessment of different elite mango varieties suitable for North western plain zones of Uttar Pradesh

The evaluation of different mango varieties was conducted during 2019-20 and 2020-21. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with four varieties, namely, Ambika, Pusa Arunima, Kesar, and Dashehari-51, each replicated three times. The plants were spaced at 4x4 m intervals. The results obtained demonstrated significant variations in various parameters, ranging from minimum to maximum values. The canopy spread ranged from 1.77 to 7.49 m, stem girth from 16.67 to 40 cm, number of fruits per plant from 21 to 118, fruit length from 92.04 to 123.28 mm, fruit width from 56.02 to 77.41 mm, and fruit weight from 202 to 591 g. However, the number of primary branches (2-3) and plant height (1.54-4.35 m) were found to be nonsignificant. Based on the morpho-economic traits, Pusa Arunima appeared to be a superior variety in terms of tree morpho-economic traits, while others were considered moderate. Considering the average number of fruits per plant and fruit weight (g) over a two-year period, Pusa Arunima clearly outperformed the other three varieties in terms of yield. Furthermore, Pusa Arunima, Kesar, and Ambika exhibited more marketable fruit traits. These findings emphasize the significant diversity among the examined mango cultivars. Therefore, it is crucial to protect and preserve these valuable genetic resources for future breeding programs aimed at developing novel and commercially viable cultivars.

PENGARUH PUPUK KANDANG AYAM DAN PUPUK BIOTOGROW TERHADAP HASIL TANAMAN CABAI RAWIT (Capsicum frutescens L.) PADA TANAH ALUVIAL

This research aimed to determine the effect of the interaction between chicken manure and Biotogrow fertilizer on the growth and yield of cayenne pepper plants in alluvial soil. The study was conducted in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. The research encompassed the preparation of the planting media, commencing in January 2023 and concluding in April 2023. The research design employed was a completely randomized design (CRD) with a factorial pattern consisting of two factors. The first factor, represented by the code K, included three levels of treatment: K1, with 100 grams/polybag; K2, with 200 grams/polybag; and K3, with 300 grams/polybag. The second factor, represented by the code B, also comprised three levels of treatment: B1, with 2 ml/L water; B2, with 4 ml/L water; and B3, with 6 ml/L water. Observed variables included plant height (cm), the number of branches, the number of fruits, fruit weight (grams), and environmental factors. The research results revealed that there was no significant interaction between chicken manure and Biotogrow fertilizer regarding the growth and yield of cayenne pepper, as assessed by all observed variables. The combination of Biotogrow fertilizer and chicken manure resulted in a fruit weight of 59.12 grams on average per plant for the K1B1 treatment. The K3B2 treatment, on the other hand, exhibited the best plant height results with an average height of 37.22 cm. Additionally, the K3B2 treatment produced the highest average number of fruits per plant, which was 39.78, while the K3B3 treatment yielded the highest average number of branches, at 18.78.

PENGARUH PUPUK KANDANG AYAM DAN PUPUK BIOTOGROW TERHADAP HASIL TANAMAN CABAI RAWIT (Capsicum frutescens L.) PADA TANAH ALUVIAL

This research aimed to determine the effect of the interaction between chicken manure and Biotogrow fertilizer on the growth and yield of cayenne pepper plants in alluvial soil. The study was conducted in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. The research encompassed the preparation of the planting media, commencing in January 2023 and concluding in April 2023. The research design employed was a completely randomized design (CRD) with a factorial pattern consisting of two factors. The first factor, represented by the code K, included three levels of treatment: K1, with 100 grams/polybag; K2, with 200 grams/polybag; and K3, with 300 grams/polybag. The second factor, represented by the code B, also comprised three levels of treatment: B1, with 2 ml/L water; B2, with 4 ml/L water; and B3, with 6 ml/L water. Observed variables included plant height (cm), the number of branches, the number of fruits, fruit weight (grams), and environmental factors. The research results revealed that there was no significant interaction between chicken manure and Biotogrow fertilizer regarding the growth and yield of cayenne pepper, as assessed by all observed variables. The combination of Biotogrow fertilizer and chicken manure resulted in a fruit weight of 59.12 grams on average per plant for the K1B1 treatment. The K3B2 treatment, on the other hand, exhibited the best plant height results with an average height of 37.22 cm. Additionally, the K3B2 treatment produced the highest average number of fruits per plant, which was 39.78, while the K3B3 treatment yielded the highest average number of branches, at 18.78.

Enhancing strawberry fruit growth in hydroponic greenhouse: Synergistic effects of biochar and humic acid

Hydroponics is a modern agricultural system that enables year-round plant growth. Biochar, derived from apple tree waste, and humic acid were investigated as a replacement for the Hoagland nutrient solution to grow strawberries in a greenhouse with three replications. Growth parameters, such as leaf area, the average number of fruits per plant, maximum fruit weight, and the weight of fresh and dry fruits, were measured. A 50% increase in fresh and dry fruit weight was observed in plants grown using biochar compared to the control. Additionally, the use of Hoagland chemical fertilizer led to a 25% increase in both fresh and dry weight. There was a 65% increase in the number of fruits per plant in the biochar-grown sample compared to the control. Moreover, biochar fertilizer caused a 100% increase in maximum fruit weight compared to the control and a 27% increase compared to the Hoagland chemical fertilizer. Biochar had a higher pH compared to the Hoagland solution, and such pH levels were conducive to strawberry plant growth. The results indicate that biochar has the potential to enhance the size and weight of fruits. The findings of the study demonstrate that biochar, when combined with humic acid, is a successful organic hydroponic fertilizer that improves the quality and quantity of strawberries. Moreover, this approach enables the more efficient utilization of garden waste.

Contribution of Cattle Dung as an Alternative to Mineral Fertilization of Soils in Tomato (Lycopersicom esculenta) Production

The use of chemical fertilizers, which in the long term constitutes a source of environmental degradation, has led farmers to use organic sources as alternative soil amendments. However, use of organic fertilizers alone may not restore the fertility of highly degraded soils, hence the need for the integration of organic and mineral fertilizers. The objective of the study was to improve soil fertility and tomato productivity. The study was carried out using a Fisher block design, with three replicates established on sandy soils. Treatments T0 (control treatment), Tpp (500 kg ha-1of NPK), T1 (40 kg ha-1of cattle dung + 167 kg ha-1of NPK), T2 (40 kg ha-1of cattle dung + 250 kg ha-1of NPK), T3 (40 kg ha-1of cattle dung + 375 kg ha-1of NPK), T4 (40 kg ha-1of cattle dung + 500 kg ha-1of NPK) and T5 (40 kg ha-1of NPK of cattle dung) were applied to elementary plots of 20 m2 (5 m x 4 m). Cattle dung was applied one week before transplanting was done. On the other hand, split application of mineral fertilizer was done at transplanting and at the start of flowering. The height of the plants, the circumference at the collar, the diameter of the fruits, the average number of fruits and weights of harvested fruits were evaluated on 4 plants of the effective plot. The results obtained revealed that the addition of cattle dung to the soil made it possible to reduce the quantities of chemical fertilizer commonly used by tomato producers. Thus, T3 treatment (40 kg/ha of cattle dung as a single contribution of basal fertilizer + 375 kg/ha of NPK), or ¾ of the dose of chemical fertilizer commonly applied by producers, made it possible to improve the agronomic parameters of the tomato and obtained the highest tomato yields (16292.25 kg/ha). The cattle dung combination at a dose of 40 kg/ha + 375 kg/ha of NPK 15 15 15 is therefore, the optimum dose to provide for better tomato production.

Effect of Different Combinations of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium on Growth and Yield of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) under Rupandehi Condition

An experiment on effect of different combinations of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) var. ArkaAnamika was conducted at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Paklihawa, Rupandehi during February 2017 to June 2017. The experiment was laid in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments 220:200:60 NPK Kg ha–1 (T1), 200:180:60 NPK Kg ha–1 (T2), 180:160:40 NPK Kg ha–1 (T3), 160:140:40 NPK Kg ha–1 (T4), 140:120:20 NPK Kg ha–1(T5), 120:100:20 NPK Kg ha–1 (T6) and Control (T7) were applied and the growth, yield and yield attributes of okra were studied. The result revealed that there were no significant differences (p=0.05 level by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test-DMRT) on plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, fruit length, fruit diameter, average number of fruit per plant and average marketable yield to the effect of different combination of NPK levels. However, the result showed that average marketable yield and total yield was found significant over the control and also the highest total yield (43.21 Mt/ha) was obtained at 160:140:40NPK Kg ha–1.

Leaf Mineral Contents and Growth Characteristics of Strawberry Grown in Aquaponic System with Different Growing Media in a Plant Factory

This study was aimed to determine the effects of grow media on the mineral contents of the leaves and growth characteristics of strawberry grown under aquaponics system in a plant factory. For aquaculture, 12 fish (Cyprinus carpio) (total weight, 2.0 kg) were raised in an aquaponics tank (W 0.7 m × L 1.5 m × H 0.45 m, 472.5 L) filled with 367.5 L of water at a density of 5.44 kg·m-3 and total 34 of strawberry seedlings were transplanted in the pots filed with 200 g of orchid stone, hydroball or polyurethane sponge in the growing bed (W 0.7 m × L 1.5 m × H 0.22 m) laid out with holly acrylic sheet (140×60 mm, Ø80) on the top of the system. The pH and EC of the aquaponic solution was ranged from 7.6 to 4.9 and 0.24－0.91 dS·m-1, respectively. The concentration of NO3-N was about 28% lower than that of the hydroponic standard solution, and K, Fe and B were 10, 27 and 3.8 times lower, respectively; however, the mineral contents of strawberry leaves were in the appropriate ranges with lower contents in the leaves grown with sponge media. The organic content (OM), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of the sludge were 61.5, 5.72, 8.92, and 0.24%, respectively. The leaf area, leaf number, and dry and fresh weights of shoot at 81 DAT were significantly higher in the hydroball, and the average number of fruits per plant was significantly higher in both the orchid stone and hydroball. There was no significant difference in the fresh and dry weights of fruits. Integrated all the results suggest that the orchid stone and hydroball media are more effective to utilize nutrients in solid particles of aquaponic solution, compared to the polyurethane sponge.

Optimalisasi Produktivitas Tanaman Pala (Myristica Fragrans Houtt) Melalui Aplikasi Nutrisi Tanaman Organik-Anorganik Cair

The objective of this study was to optimize the productivity of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt) through the application of concentration levels and frequency of liquid organic-inorganic mixed plant nutrition was carried out in the Nutmeg Garden of Hative Besar Village, Ambon Island, using a factorial complete randomized block design 3 x 2 + 1 (control, without treatment). The first factor consisted of three concentration levels, namely 1500 ppm, 3000 ppm, and 4500 ppm. The second factor consisted of two application frequencies: every two weeks and every four weeks. The sample employed in this study had an average age of 25 years. Each treatment combination was repeated three times with the total sampled 21 trees. The following yield parameter components were observed in this study: number of harvested fruits, fresh fruit weight, wet seed weight, dry seed weight, and dry mace weight. The results showed an interaction between the combination treatment of liquid organic-inorganic mixed plant nutrient concentrations and the frequency of application to the variables of fresh fruit weight, wet seed weight, dry seed weight, and dry mace weight. The variable number of fruits harvested per plant did not show an interaction effect between the concentration level and the frequency of giving liquid organic-inorganic mixed plant nutrition. Still, the best average number of fruits harvested per plant was found in the combination treatment between a concentration of 3000 ppm and a frequency of application every two weeks. The application of liquid organic-inorganic mixed plant nutrition with a concentration of 3000 ppm with a frequency of application every two weeks showed a positive response to increasing plant productivity when compared to other treatments or without the application of plant nutrients.

Improving Runner Production, Total yield and Postharvest Quality of Strawberry Fruits using Plant Growth Regulators

In this study, different plant growth regulators were tested to improve runner production, total yield and postharvestquality of strawberry fruits. For this, different concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA3) (50 ppm, 100 ppm), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (40 ppm, 80 ppm) and benzyl adenine (BA) (150 ppm, 300 ppm) were used as foliar sprays along withonly water as control. Experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicationsand data collected was analysed and means were compared. Results showed that maximum survival percentage (100.00),number of runners per plant (18.77), number of plantlet on each runner (6.88), leaf area (58.45 cm2), chlorophyll contentof leaves (67.87 g/ml), , average number of flowers per plant (28.98), average number of fruits per plant (26.78), fruityield per plant (309.78 g), weight of fruit (11.57 g) and size of fruit (15.34 mm) were found in strawberry plants whichwere sprayed with GA3 @ 100 ppm. However, maximum number of days to flowering (55.89) and number of days toharvest (85.76) were observed in strawberry plants which were treated with only water (control). Postharvest qualityparameters like total soluble solids (TSS) (13.21 °Brix), titratable acidity (1.24%), vitamin C (39.12 mg/100 g), ashcontent (0.78), total carotenoids (4.92 mg/100 g FW), total anthocyanins (4.05 mg/100 g FW), total flavonoids (9.09mg/100 g FW), total phenolics (9.12 mg gallic acid/100 g) and antioxidant activity (102.91 μg/100 mg FW) were alsorecorded maximum in plants, sprayed with GA3 @ 100 ppm. Based on current findings it can be concluded that GA3 @100 ppm was found the best plants growth regulator for vegetative growth and postharvest quality attributes of strawberryas compared to all the other growth regulators tested.

Biodegradable Recycled Paper Mulch Reduces Strawberry Water Consumption and Crop Coefficient

Mulching with recycled paper has the potential to be used in agricultural production and can be adopted in strawberry cultivation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics, water consumption and technical coefficients of strawberry cultivated with recycled paper as mulch. The treatments consisted of strawberry cultivation in lysimeters with recycled paper mulch and without soil cover. The recycled paper used was 187 μm-thick. The irrigation system was installed with drippers whose flow rate was 2 L h−1. Strawberry irrigation requirements were 317 and 394 mm, with and without mulch, respectively. Mulching with recycled paper did not have a significant effect on the average number of fruits, fresh fruit mass, fruit waste per plant, average fruit yield and water productivity. In relation to the technical coefficients, maximum values of the evaporation coefficient (Ke) of 0.40 (calculated with the evapotranspiration of the grass—L) and 0.28 (calculated with the Penman–Monteith ETo—PM) were obtained for OPM. The Kc values for the initial and full development stages were 0.31 and 0.84 (L) and 0.24 and 0.66 (PM), respectively. NDVI can be used to estimate strawberry Kc values. Recycled paper as mulch reduces the water consumption of strawberry crops and does not alter the agronomic characteristics.