Effect of multi-micronutrients on growth and yield of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) CV. Phule Mosambi

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Horticultural Research Farm, College of Horticulture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during 2024 to evaluate the effect of multi-micronutrients on growth and yield of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) cv. Phule Mosambi. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design comprising nine treatments involving different combinations of government-notified multi-micronutrient grades of Gujarat (G-IV and G-V) and Maharashtra (G-II-MH) applied through soil and foliar methods and repeated thrice. Among the treatments, foliar application of G-IV (Fe-4.0%, Zn-6.0%, Cu-0.5%, B-0.5%, Mn-1.0%) + Mo-0.1% combined with soil application of G-V (Fe-2.0%, Zn-5.0%, Cu-0.2%, B-0.5%, Mn-0.5%) significantly enhanced yield parameters including fruit length (7.87 cm), fruit diameter (7.83 cm), fruit weight (260.47 g), fruit volume (248.33 cc) and fruit yield (63.80 kg/tree and 17.74 t/ha). The same treatment also showed highest number of fruits at pea stage (43), number of fruits at harvest (27), reduced fruit drop percentage (38.53%) and increased number of fruits per plant (245).