Effect of foliar nutrition of calcium and boron on the yield and quality attributes of grape

Abstract

Role of calcium and boron are well known for the development and maintenance of structural properties. The present study was conducted during 2018 in a vineyard of farmer’s field at Matthipalyam, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Grape cultivar was tested with ten foliar treatments at different doses of calcium and boron, which was given twice at 45 and 55 days after pruning along with the existing recommendation of 0.1% boric acid + 0.2% zinc sulphate + 1% urea. And other treatments were T2-0.5% calcium nitrate; T3-1% calcium nitrate; T4-0.1% boric acid; T5-0.2% boric acid; T6-0.5% calcium nitrate + 0.1% boric acid; T7-1% calcium nitrate + 0.1% boric acid; T8-0.5% calcium nitrate + 0.2% boric acid; T9-1% calcium nitrate + 0.2% boric acid and T10-water spray. The effect of calcium and boron on yield and quality of grapes was investigated with three replicates in a randomised block design. Calcium and boron treatments positively influenced the number of bunches/vines (22 to 31 nos), yield/vine (5.32 to 6.13 kg/vine) and yield per hectare (21.7 t ha-1). Besides, they also showed positive influence on TSS (17.9 to 15.9 Brix0), juice pH (3.92 to 3.75), titrable acidity (0.91 to 1.19%), total solids (1.32 to 1.07%), berry firmness (11.9 to 7.95 N) and total sugars (15.6 to 11.2%). Foliar spray of 0.5% calcium nitrate and 0.2% boric acid twice at 45 and 55 days after pruning increased the yield by 11.1% over control besides increasing the quality parameters of grape variety Paneer.