Effect of foliar feeding of potassium nitrate (KNO3) on yield and fruit quality parameters of litchi cv. Dehradun

Abstract

An investigation was conducted in litchi cv. Dehradun during the year 2015-16 to study effect of potassium nitrate on yield and quality. 35 years old uniformly grown litchi plants were treated with KNO3 @ 1.0, 1.5 and 2% at three different stages i.e. single spray 10 days after fruit set; double spray 10 and 20 days after fruit set and triple spray 10, 20 and 30 days after fruit set and the control (water spray). Fruit yield was observed to increase by 14% with treatment of KNO3 @ 1% when sprayed once along with the fruit weight. Fruit quality parameters viz. TSS/acid ratio and total sugars also improved over untreated trees. Colour values (chroma and hue angle ho) were also observed. Leaf N and K contents were significantly higher. The present study concluded that single foliar spray of KNO3 1% after 10 days after fruit set considerably improved fruit weight, biochemical quality parameters and fruit yield.