Effect of zinc and iron application on growth and yield of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Hisar Safeda

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Effect of zinc and iron application on growth and yield of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Hisar Safeda” was conducted during 2024 at the Department of Horticulture, Tantia University, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, under irrigated
North-Western plain zone conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with eight treatments replicated thrice. The treatments were: T1 (Zn 0.5%), T2 (Zn 1.0%), T3 (Zn 2.0%), T4 (Fe 0.5%), T5 (Fe 1.0%), T6 (Fe 2.0%), T7 (Zn 0.5% + Fe 0.5%)
and T8 (control). The results revealed that foliar application of micronutrients significantly improved vegetative growth, flowering, and yield attributes. The maximum plant height increase (2.80 m) was recorded in T7 (Zn 0.5% + Fe 0.5%), while the minimum (1.95 m)
was observed in T8 (control). The number of branches per plant was highest in T7 ((Zn 0.5% + Fe 0.5%) and lowest in T8 (6.8, control). The branch length was maximum in T7 (2.45 m), (Zn 0.5% + Fe 0.5%) and minimum in T8 (1.65 cm, control). Flowering attributes also responded positively. The maximum flowers per branch (9.4) were recorded in T7 (Zn 0.5% + Fe 0.5%), whereas the minimum (5.6) was observed in T8 (control). Yield parameters showed remarkable improvement with combined application. The highest number of fruits per plant (58) was obtained in T7 (Zn 0.5% + Fe 0.5%), while the lowest (28) was found in T8 (control). The average fruit weight was maximum in T7 (126.5g, Zn 0.5% + Fe 0.5%) and minimum in T8 (102.3 g, control). The fruit yield per plant was highest in T7 (18.45 kg/plant, Zn + Fe 0.5% each) and lowest in T8 (6.25 kg/plant, control). Fruit size attributes followed the same trend, with maximum fruit length (7.2 cm) and fruit diameter (7.0 cm) in T7 (Zn 0.5% + Fe 0.5%), while the minimum values (5.8 cm length and 5.4 cm diameter) were observed in T8 (control). Overall, the combined foliar application of (ZnSO4 + FeSO4, T7) proved significantly superior over individual nutrient applications, enhancing both growth and yield parameters of guava cv. Hisar Safeda. Hence, foliar application of Zn + Fe (0.5%) is recommended for improving productivity and fruit quality under semi-arid conditions of Rajasthan.