STUDIES ON NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN CUSTARD APPLE 'BALANAGAR'

Custard apple (Annona squamosa L.) is a hardy tree and can be grown success¬fully in various kinds of soils and agro-climatic conditions. Custard apple can tap a considerable volume of soil with its extensive root system under natural habitat. However, the natural fertility of soils is rarely sufficient to give economic yields. A study was undertaken during 2006-2008 at the Fruit Research Station, Sangareddy to find out the effect of N, P and K application on growth, yield and quality of custard apple ‘Balanagar’. The experiment consisted of 3 treatments comprising T1 (control), T₂ - combination of N (125 g per plant), P₂O₅ (40 g per plant) and K₂O (40 g per plant) and T₃ - combination of N (400 g per plant), P₂O₅ (250 g per plant) and K₂O (400 g per plant). The results revealed that increasing levels of N (400 g per plant), P₂O₅ (250 g per plant) and K₂O (400 g per plant) significantly increased yield and quality attributes (number of fruits per tree) and total soluble solids. However, maximum fruit weight (255 g), pulp weight (101.8 g) and seed weight (18.17 g) were observed in T₁ (control). Application of NPK gave no significant result on vegetative growth characters like plant height, stem girth and canopy spread. It was concluded that application of N at 400 g/plant, P₂O₅ at 250 g/plant and K₂O at 400 g/plant gave higher fruit yields and quality.