Water requirement and nutrient management of guava (cv. Arka amulya) using drip under high density plantation in coastal Odisha

Abstract

In the experimental farm, the vegetative characteristics and yield characteristics of the 3-year-old guava were observed at various fertigation doses. Four levels of fertigation i. e. 100%, 80% and 60% of the recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) by drip irrigation and 100% of the recommended dose of fertilizer by soil application were studied in a Randomized block design (RBD). The results showed a significant effect on the plant height, girth of trunk & number of primary branches in vegetative parameters. Canopy spread has shown insignificant effect on various fertigation levels. Yield characteristics viz., number of fruits per plant, weight of the fruit, equatorial and polar diameter of the fruit and yield per hectare affected significantly across various fertigation levels and higher doses resulted in better values. Water use efficiency (WUE) & Fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) were varied with fertigation levels. The results revealed that drip-fertigation can play a positive role in increasing yield, WUE of guava plants with additional benefit of saving in fertilizer cost and fruit quality improvement.