Effect of foliar application of zinc and boron on growth, reproductive and yield of pomegranate cv. Ganesh in hast bahar

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Fruit Research Station Imaliya, Department of Horticulture, JNKVV, Jabalpur, India during Hast bahar of 2017-18 to assess the role of zinc and boron on growth, reproductive characteristics and yield of pomegranate. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatment consisted of two foliar applications of Zinc sulphate and Boric acid with their combinations viz., T1 (control), T2 (B+Zn @ 0+0.2%), T3 (B+Zn @ 0+0.4%), T4 (B+Zn @ 0+0.6%), T5 (B+Zn @ 0.2+0%), T6 (B+Zn @ 0.2% each), T7 (B+Zn @ 0.2+0.4%), T8 (B+Zn @ 0.2+0.6%), T9 (B+Zn @ 0.4+0%), T10 (B+Zn @ 0.4+0.2%), T11 (B+Zn @ 0.4% each), T12 (B+Zn @ 0.4+0.6%), T13 (B+Zn @ 0.6+0%), T14 (B+Zn @ 0.6+0.2%), T15 (B+Zn @ 0.6+0.4%) and T16 (B+Zn @ 0.6% each). The findings revealed that foliar spray of T11 (B+Zn @ 0.4% each) was found to be the best as compared to control treatment. Among the treatment the foliar application of B+Zn @ 0.4% each was effective in enhancing growth parameter viz. Plant height (m), Light transmission ratio (%), Energy interception (Cal cm- 2 min-1), Chlorophyll content index, reproductive parameter viz. first date of flower initiation, days taken for 50% flowering, number of flower /shoot, number of fruit /shoot and yield of hast bahar in pomegranate.