Effect of Nano NPK Fertilizers on Growth and Fruit Quality of Sapota (Manilkara achras Mill Fosberg) Cv. Kalipatti

Abstract

The study was conducted in the Department of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, Bengaluru during the year 2020-2022 to investigate the “Effect of nano NPK fertilizers on growth and fruit quality of sapota (Manilkara achras Mill Fosberg) Cv. Kalipatti”. The experiment was planned with randomized complete block design (RCBD) consisting of 12 treatments and 3 replications. During both the years (2020-2021 and 2021-2022) as well as from pooled data indicates that the maximum plant height (3.64 m, 3.78m and 3.71 m respectively), plant spread at East-West direction (8.26 m, 9.40 m and 8.83 m respectively) and North- South direction (8.24 m, 8.71m and 8.48 m respectively) was noticed in the treatment T10 (50% RDF + 0.3% Nano NPK fertilizer foliar spray) and maximum chlorophyll content (2.30 mg/ g) was noticed in the treatment T9 (50% RDF + 0.2% Nano NPK fertilizer foliar spray) during the year 2021-2022. The maximum values for quality parameters like TSS (22.33 oBrix), reducing sugar (9.31 %), total sugars (22.18 %), shelf life of fruits (7 days) and fruit firmness (74 N) were noticed in treatment T9 (50 per cent of RDF and foliar application of 0.2% of nano NPK fertilizer) during the year 2021-2022. Among all the different treatments T10 (50 per cent of RDF and foliar application of 0.3% of nano NPK fertilizer) and T9 (50 per cent of RDF and foliar application of 0.2% of nano NPK fertilizer) were proved significant improvement for tree growth and fruit quality of sapota respectively.