Effect of foliar application of micronutrients on growth, fruit retention and yield parameters of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle)
2022
Saurav Bastakoti | Saurav Nepal | Dipika Sharma | Arjun Kumar Shrestha
AbstractThe deficiency of micronutrients is widespread in Nepal, which results in poor growth, fruit drop and lower yield. June drop and pre-harvest drop reduce fruit retention and yield of Citrus. A study on the effects of micronutrients on June drop and pre-harvest drop of Citrus has not been conducted in Nepal and few in the global range. So, the effects of foliar application of micronutrients (Zn, B and Cu) were studied on plant growth, fruit retention and yield parameters of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) var. Sun Kagati-1. The findings revealed the significant effect of Zn alone or in combination with plant canopy spread under growth parameters. Zn and B alone or in combination significantly affected fruit retention and yield parameters of acid lime. Zn and/or B resulted in significant minimization of June drop and pre-harvest drop of fruits with a greater reduction in combination type treatments. Cu enhanced fruit weight and thereby led to greater yield. Treatment Zn (0.1%)+Cu (0.05%)+B (0.05%) was best on which fruit set was 26.14% higher as compared to control. Similarly, the June and pre-harvest drops were 18.52% and 5.18% lower in the treatment, respectively. Moreover, yield due to the treatment was 1.6 times greater than that of control as a result of higher fruit number and fruit weight. Thus, the application of Zn, B and Cu can be beneficial in obtaining a greater fruit set. Further, their role in the minimization of June and pre-harvest drop augments the fruit yield of acid lime. [Figure: see text]
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