dc.description.abstract |
An experiment was conducted in the Department of Pomology and
Floriculture, College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2001-2002, to study
the response of major plant nutrients viz., nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium on growth, yield and quality of papaya under Kerala conditions
and to standardise the optimum dose of these nutrients. The experiment
was conducted in 33 confounded factorial RBD, confounding NPK in
replication 1 and Np2K2 in replication 2.
The present study revealed that application of nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium increased plant height, girth and number of leaves. The
highest plant height was obtained with the combined application of 200 g
N, 300 g P and 500 g K plan' year-', while the highest plant girth was
obtained with application of 250 g N, 300 g P and 500 g K. Combined
application of 300 g N, 250 g P and 500 g K p lant' year-' resulted in the
maximum number of leaves. Plants receiving a dose of nitrogen at 250 g,
300 g phosphorus and 500 g potassium plant" took the shortest time for
flowering. Combined application of nitrogen at 250 g plant.", phosphorus
at 250 g plant" and potassium at 500 g planr' considerably shortened the
time for harvesting the first fruit.
Fruit weight, number of fruits plant", yield planr' and papain yield
increased by application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Application of 250 g N, 250 g P and 500 g K planr' year-' gave highest
yield. Maximum fruit girth was obtained from 200 g N, 200 g P and 500 g
K, whereas maximum fruit volume and pulp percentage was obtained from
250 g N, 250 g P and 500 g K.
Levels of nitrogen and phosphorus tried had no significant influence
on TSS and ascorbic acid content of fruits. Nitrogen at 200 g, phosphorus
at 250 g planr' produced. fruits of low acidity, while potassium had no
significant influence. The combination of 200 g nitrogen, 300 g
phosphorus and 500 g potassium plane 1 year" increased carotenoids, total
sugars, reducing sugars and organoleptic qualities of fruits.
Most of the treatments had light yellow peel colour, orange pulp
colour and firm flesh. Nitrogen at 200 g, phosphorus at 250 g and
potassium at 500 g plant" was found to increase the shelf life of fruits.
Application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium increased soil
and leaf petiole content of the respective elements. Highest benefit: cost
ratio was obtained from the combination of 250 g N, 250 g P and 500 g K
I
-I -I
P ant year .
Over all assessment indicated that application of N, P and K at the
rate of 250 : 250 : 500 g plant" year-I in six equal splits was economically
viable and improved growth, yield and quality of papaya. |
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