Standardisation of different levels and split application of nitrogen on growth and yield of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) OSBECK) CV. Phule Mosambi

Abstract

A research was carried out at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during February to October in the year 2023 with an objective to study the effect of different levels and split application of nitrogen on growth and yield of sweet orange. The experiment was carried out using a Completely Randomised Design with eight treatments involving four levels of nitrogen i.e. 600, 800, 1000 and 1200 g N/plant combined with two levels of splits viz. 2 splits: March (50%) and June (50%) and 3 splits: February (40%), April (40%) and June (20%) and repeated thrice. Among the different treatments, application of 1200 g N/plant recorded significantly the highest incremental plant height (38.96 cm), incremental plant spread N-S (39.42 cm) and E-W (40.79 cm). With regard to the yield parameters, effect of 1000 g N/plant was found superior for increasing fruit set at pea stage (61.10%), fruit length (8.19 cm), fruit diameter (8.11 cm), fruit weight (246.39 g), fruit volume (273 cc), number of fruits per plant (278) and fruit yield (64.40 kg/tree and 17.90 t/ha). Similarly, 3 splits of nitrogen application also resulted in significantly maximum fruit set (57.71%), number of fruits (258.13) and yield (58.68 kg/plant and 16.31 t/ha). In case of interaction effect, 1000 g N/plant with three splits noted significantly maximum fruit weight (265 g), fruit volume (283 cc), number of fruits per plant (305) and fruit yield (69.40 kg/plant and 19.29 t/ha).