MSc

The investigation entitled ‘Management of calcium, magnesium and boron
deficiency for enhancing yield and quality in chilli’ was carried out at Instructional
farm, Nileshwar, College of Agriculture Padannakkad, with an objective to develop
nutrient management practices for mitigating calcium, magnesium and boron
deficiency and to evaluate its effect on growth, yield and quality parameters. The field
experiment was carried out during December 2020 to May 2021.
The experiment was carried out with chilli variety Anugraha, in randomized
block design with ten treatments and three replications. Treatment combinations were
T1(KAU POP + lime (based on soil test)), T2 (T1 + 125 kg gypsum per hectare), T3 (T1
+ 80 kg magnesium sulphate per hectare), T4 (T1 + 125 kg gypsum per hectare + 80 kg
magnesium sulphate per hectare), T5 (T1 + foliar application of borax (0.2%)), T6 (T2 +
foliar application of borax (0.2%)), T7 (T3 + foliar application of borax (0.2%)), T8 (T4
+ foliar application of borax (0.2%)), T9 (KAU POP + dolomite (based on soil test))
and T10 (T9 + foliar application of borax (0.2%)). Soil application of amendments were
done as a single dose and foliar nutrition was given four times in a 20 days interval.
Analysis of experimental results showed that various treatments showed
significant effect on growth characters, fruit quality parameters as well as nutrient
content in both soil and plant, over KAU POP recommendation. Significant positive
effect of treatments on plant root characters and total dry matter production was
observed whereas plant height and days to 50% flowering were found to be non
significant. Among the treatments, maximum tap root length (13.50 cm), root volume
(23.23 cm3
), root shoot ratio (0.16) and total dry matter production (2694.65 kg ha-1
)
were recorded in T8 (KAU POP + lime application based on soil test) +125 kg gypsum
per hectare + 80 kg magnesium sulphate per hectare + foliar application of borax
(0.2%). Various treatments showed significant influence on yield and yield attributes.
Maximum fruit weight (37.16 g) and total fruit yield (4456.79 kg ha-1
) was also
observed in T8 and in case of fruit yield, it was significantly superior to all other
treatments. Combined application of gypsum, magnesium sulphate and borax were
effective and maximized fruit yield.
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Soil analysis was carried out at flowering and harvest wherein, the treatments
showed significant effect on soil pH, EC, available potassium, calcium, magnesium,
sulphur, iron, manganese and zinc content whereas available nitrogen, phosphorus,
copper and boron were not influenced by treatments. Addition of calcium and
magnesium sources significantly increased available calcium and magnesium content
in soil. Among the various treatments, the highest available calcium was recorded in T8
and was on par with T2, T6 and T4 at flowering. Highest available magnesium content
was recorded in T9 and T10 at flowering and harvest respectively.
Analysis of Index leaves at flowering and total plant analysis at harvest were carried
out and it was found that plant nutrient content was significantly influenced by
treatments. Significant effect of various treatments on plant nutrients except nitrogen
and phosphorus was observed. Foliar application of borax significantly improved boron
content in plants. Fruit quality parameters such as capsaicin, oleoresin, ascorbic acid
and shelf life and total nutrient content were analysed and results showed significant
positive response to treatments. Analysis of nutrient content in fruits showed that
primary nutrients mainly, nitrogen and potassium, secondary nutrients and
micronutrients in fruits were significantly influenced by various treatments. The
treatment, T8 (KAU POP + lime based on soil test) +125 kg gypsum per hectare + 80
kg magnesium sulphate per hectare + foliar application of borax (0.2%)) recorded
highest capsaicin (0.352 %), oleoresin (11.00 %), ascorbic acid (96.83 mg 100 g-1
) and
maximum shelf life (13.66 days) in chilli.
The results obtained from the experiment revealed the significant influence of
soil amendments over KAU POP recommendation and it can be concluded that
combined application of gypsum, magnesium sulphate and borax was effective for
increasing fruit yield and quality in chilli.