Effect of bio-stimulants on yield and quality of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) CV. Sindhan

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Effect of bio-stimulants on yield and quality of custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) cv. Sindhan”was carried out at Madhadibaug, Fruit Research Station, Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh during the year 2023-24. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 11 treatments of bio-stimulants i.e. Seaweed extract @ 1% (T1), Seaweed extract @ 2% (T2), Humic acid @ 1.5% (T3), Humic acid @ 2.5% (T4), Panchagavya @ 3% (T5), Panchagavya @ 5% (T6), Azotobacter + PSB + KSB @ 3 ml/plant each as soil application (T7), Azotobacter + PSB + KSB @ 5 ml/plant each as soil application (T8), Fulvic acid 4 ml/L (T9), Fulvic acid 5 ml/L (T10), Control (T11) with three replications. Among the bio-stimulants, seaweed extract @ 2% (T2) was found significantly maximum fruit weight (208.57 g), fruit length (7.39 cm), fruit girth (7.48 cm), pulp weight (102.19 g), rag weight (82.24 g), number of fruits per tree (108.65), fruit yield (22.64 kg/tree), fruit yield (6.27 t/ha), TSS (26.70 ˚Brix), total sugar (23.60%), reducing sugar (19.96%), non reducing sugar (3.27%) and minimum seed: pulp ratio (0.21), titratable acidity (0.20%).