Standardisation of different levels and split application of nitrogen on quality 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 quality 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 1000 g N/plant recorded significantly the highest total soluble solids (9.61 ⁰Brix), total sugar (8.63%), Ascorbic acid (45.50 mg/100ml juice) and maximum beta carotene content (18.04 ppm). Acidity was significantly minimum (0.52%) when N2 (800 g N/plant) treatment was applied which was at par (0.55%) with N3 (1000 g N/plant). Maximum sugar: acid ratio (18.41) was recorded with N2 (800 g N/plant) which was at par (18.12) with N3 (1000 g N/plant). Significantly higher juice% (45.36) was recorded with N4 (1200 g N/plant) which was at par with 1000 g N/plant (41.76%) and 800 g N/plant (40.90%).