Influence of pruning time, intensity and bagging on economic feasibility of guava cv. Lucknow-49 for Eastern U.P

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at main experiment Station, Department of fruit Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya, (U.P) during the year 2019 and 2020. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized block design (Factorial) with three replications. The treatment combination comprise of 3 factors viz. 3 pruning time, 2 pruning intensity and 2 bagging levels. The minimum cost of cultivation Rs 55754 ha-1 was computed under control treatment, while maximum cost of cultivation Rs 114954 ha-1 was obtained in treatment 20th June pruning with 60 percent pruning intensity and bagging 20 days after fruit set. The highest gross return and net return Rs 317200 and 203811 was achieved in treatment 5th June pruning with 60 percent pruning intensity and bagging 20 days after fruit set, respectively and the lowest gross return and net return (Rs 109500 and Rs 55754 ha-1) was recorded under control treatment. The maximum cost-benefit ratio (1:1.79) was computed with treatment combination of 5th June pruning time with 60 per control treatment. Pruning of guava trees in the first week of June with 60 percent pruning intensity of annual shoot growth and bagging 20 days after fruit set can be recommended to obtain higher yield with quality fruit and maximum return.