Vegetative growth response of “William Bartlett” pear (Pyrus communis L.) to foliar nutrient sprays

Abstract

The present study entitled “Vegetative growth response of “William Bartlett” pear (Pyrus communis L.) to foliar nutrient sprays’’ was carried out in the Experimental block of Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar, J&K on 7 and 8-years-old pear plants of cv. “William Bartlett” raised on Quince-C rootstock and spaced at 1 m×3 m during the years 2023 and 2024. Foliar spray of three micronutrients viz. zinc, boron and molybdenum were carried out in the form of ZnSO4 (Zinc sulphate), H3BO4 (Boric acid), Na2MoO4.2H2O (Sodium molybdate) respectively while the macronutrient phosphorus was sprayed in the form of H3PO4 (Orthophosphoric acid). These nutrients were sprayed individually and in combinations at initial bloom stage (10% bloom). It was revealed from the study that ZnSO4 (0.25%) + H3BO3 (0.15%) + Na2MoO4.2H2O (0.1%) + H3PO4 (0.05%) significantly outperformed other treatments by increasing incremental tree height by 11.77-11.82%, spread by 24.52-24.58%, volume by 31.58-31.66%, and trunk cross-sectional area by 10.56-10.63% over control (T0). These results highlight synergistic nutrient interactions for optimizing canopy architecture and vigour in pear orchards.