MSc

The present research work entitled “Performance evaluation of guava (Psidium
guajava L.) in containers” was conducted at Department of Fruit Science, College of
Agriculture, Vellayani, from 2022 November to 2023 October. The study was
undertaken to evaluate the growth response of different planting materials of guava
plants to different types and sizes of containers. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with
18 treatments and 3 replications using the guava variety Arka Kiran. The treatments
included two container types (C1 - Plastic container and C2 - Air-pot), three container
sizes (V1 - 40L, V2 - 60L and V3 - 80L) and three different planting materials (P1 - Air
layers, P2 - Rooted cuttings and P3 - Grafts). Three month old planting materials were
used in the study. The medium of planting consisted of soil, coir pith, and farm yard
manure in 1 : 1 : 1 ratio across all treatments. The plants were trained by promoting
scaffolds at 8-10 cm height from the soil level to achieve a pyramidal / bush shape. Regular pruning was followed to remove upright, criss-cross and drooping branches. Management practices were given uniformly across all treatments. Irrigation was done
in alternate days in summer and at regular intervals based on prevailing climatic
conditions. Plastic containers (C1) in comparison to air-pots registered significantly taller
plants with higher plant spread, stem girth, leaves per plant (3 MAP, 6 MAP, 9 MAP
and 12 MAP), primary branch girth (6 MAP, 9 MAP and 12 MAP), root dry weight, shoot dry weight and leaf area (12 MAP). While plants in air-pots showed early
flowering along with more number of flowers, flowering duration and higher root :
shoot ratio. Among different container volumes, 80 L (V3) had taller plants (3 MAP, 6
MAP, 9 MAP and 12 MAP) with more plant spread in both E-W (3 MAP and 6 MAP)
and N-S (3 MAP, 6 MAP, 9 MAP and 12 MAP) directions. Earliness in flowering
along with higher stem girth (3 MAP), primary branch girth (3 MAP and 9 MAP), leaves per plant (3 MAP, 6 MAP, 9 MAP and 12 MAP), flowering duration, number
of flowers, shoot dry weight (12 MAP) and leaf area was also observed in V3. 40 L
(V1) recorded the maximum root dry weight which was also on par with 80L (V3).
Among different planting materials, air layers showed taller plants with more
plant spread in E-W (3 MAP, 6 MAP, 9 MAP and 12 MAP) and N-S (3 MAP, 6 MAP
and 9 MAP) directions. In addition to this, early flowering and increased leaves per
plant (3 MAP, 6 MAP, 9 MAP and 12 MAP), flowering duration, number of flowers, leaf area and root: shoot ratio (12 MAP) were also observed in air layers. Grafts (P3)
recorded the highest stem girth, primary branch girth, root dry weight and shoot dry
weight.Leaf tissue was analysed for physiological and biochemical parameters viz., chlorophyll content, total carotenoids, total reducing sugars and total soluble proteins
at 12 MAP. Container type and planting material did not show any significant effect
on these parameters, while 80 L container volume showed significantly higher total
soluble proteins than 40 and 60 litres. The two factor interaction between container type and size (C x V), showed
that 80L plastic containers (C1V3) recorded significantly higher plant spread (E-W and
N-S), stem girth, leaves per plant, leaf area and root dry weight. The shoot dry weight
was higher in both plastic container and air-pots with 80 L (C1V3 and C2V3). Air-pots
with 80 L (C2V3) observed early flowering with more flowers per plant and enhanced
flowering duration. Interaction between container type and planting material (C x P)
also confirms similar results in air-pots with air layers (C2P1). Root : shoot ratio was
highest in air-pots with grafted plants (C2P3). The two factor interaction between
container size and planting material (V x P) showed 80 L having air layers (V3P1)
outperformed other combinations with respect to plant height, leaves per plant, number of flowers, leaf area, flowering duration and days to flowering. Shoot dry
weight was highest in 80 L with grafts (V3P3). In three factor interaction, 80 L plastic container with grafts (C1V3P3) showed
higher shoot dry weight, while leaves per plant and leaf area was maximum for air
layers in 80L plastic container (C1V3P1). Early flowering with more number of flowers
was observed in 80L air-pots with air layers (C2V3P1). Another notable feature observed in the study is the presence of root coiling in
plastic containers with 40 and 60 litre sizes irrespective of the type of planting
material. Again, air-pot being a porous container showed a lower media temperature
across all sizes.
Correlation analysis revealed that container size is positively correlated with
plant height, plant spread (N-S), leaves per plant, leaf area, number of flowers, shoot
dry weight, total soluble protein and negatively correlated with root shoot ratio. The present investigation pointed out that an increase in container size
enhanced shoot and root growth in guava. Considering the perennial nature of the crop
and the superior attributes of air-pots over plastic containers, it can be concluded that
80 L air-pots with air layers (C2V3P1) can be suggested as the best option for growing
guava in