Effect of bio-fertilizer and chemical fertilizer on yield and quality of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at sweet orange research station Badnapur, district Jalna on eight year old sweet orange plant during Mrig bahar (May- June) in the year 2015-16 to study the effect of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer on yield and quality of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck). The experiment was laid out with seven treatments having different combination of biofertilizers and chemical fertilizers (i.e. PSB, Azotobacter, 800:400:400g NPK and 50kg FYM) in Randomized block design with three replications. The maximum increase in number of fruits (403.83), average yield (107.36kg) and marketable yield of fruits (105.46kg) was recorded in the treatment of RDF (800:400:400g NPK + FYM) + 80ml Azotobacter + 80ml PSB (T6). The maximum increase in quality parameters were recorded in the treatment of RDF (800:400:400g NPK + FYM) + 80ml Azotobacter + 80ml PSB (T6) i.e. Juice percent (52.33%), TSS (12.600 Brix), total sugar percent (8.80%), reducing sugar percent (4.48%), non-reducing sugar percent (4.33%) and ascorbic acid content (58.70 mg/100ml juice).