Yield and Fruit Quality of Kinnow Mandarin Influenced by Foliar Spray of Different Nutrients

Abstract

Citrus (Citrus sinensis L.) is one of the world's most significant fruit crops, 3rd among subtropical fruits. Kinnow is considered as the trademark of Pakistan’s citriculture industry, dominates the major citrus growing areas of the country. Macro and micronutrients have the capacity to regulate and manipulate the growth and fruit quality of Kinnow mandarin. The present study was initiated to evaluate the influence of foliar sprays of nutrients on yield and fruit quality of Kinnow mandarin. For this purpose, foliar sprays of nitrogen (1 and 1.5 %), iron (0.25 and 0.5 %) and zinc (0.25 and 0.5 %) were applied at pre flowering stage. The trial was carried out using a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The parameters such as reducing sugars (%), acidity (pH), TSS (brix)⁰, total sugars (%), total fruits per plant, fruit set (%), yield per tree (Kg), length of fruit (cm), fruit width (mm), total number of seeds per fruit and peel thickness (mm) were studied. The collected data was analyzed statistically by Using STATISTIX 8.1 According to results, T₆ (Nitrogen @1.5%) gave best results in terms of reducing sugars, TSS/Brix (⁰), total sugars (%), fruit set (%), yield per tree (Kg), fruit length (cm), fruit width (mm), number of seeds per fruit and peel thickness (mm). The minimum acidity (pH) was recorded in T₅ (Nitrogen @1%) and T₄ (FeSO₄ @0.5%). While the maximum number of fruits per plant were recorded in T₄ (FeSO₄ @0.5%) then in T₂ (ZnSO₄ @0.5%). All the treatments gave good result as compare to T₀ (control / no treatment) while T₆ (Nitrogen @1.5%) gave best results in maximum parameters observation. From the results it was concluded that foliar spray Nitrogen @1.5% can be used for enhancing the yield and fruit quality of Kinnow mandarin.