Effect of Fertigation and Mulching on Growth and Yield of Guava under High Density at Various Stages of Growth in Coastal Odisha
Lakshmi Poojitha Challa *
Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
B. P. Behera
CAET, OUAT, Odisha, India.
P. C. Pradhan
PFDC, OUAT, Odisha, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
An experiment was conducted on Guava with four treatments and viz., three levels of fertigation i.e., 100%, 80%, 60% of Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (RDF) with mulching and the control refers to drip irrigation with 100% RDF in soil application. The variety used in experiment is Cv Arka Amulya with a spacing of 3 m× 2.5 m. For fertigation purpose, water-soluble fertilizer of Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium is used. The results showed that vegetative growth parameters viz., plant height, girth, number of primary branches were significantly affected and canopy spread was non-significantly affected at various stages of the plant growth. The maximum plant height (2.89 m), canopy area (2.16 m2), girth (19.78cm), number of branches (6) found in 100% RDF through fertigation with mulching at the harvesting stage of the crop. The interaction effect of mulching and fertigation showed significant effect on both the vegetative and yield parameters.
Keywords: RDF, fertigation, high density planting, canopy, girth.