Vol. 6, Issue 11 (2017)

Author(s):
Jeni Debbarma, Pauline Alila, Mahamaya Banik, Ajit Kumar Mandal and Ashim Chakma

Abstract:
Pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait.) has large deposits of vitamin A, C, K and B. It is also rich in minerals such as copper and iron which are essential in blood formation and boosting immunity. Potassium in the fruit helps in lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow and central nervous system coordination. Pepino is also diuretic it accelerates passage of urine, therefore, appropriate for diabetic patients. In this context an investigation was carried out at Experimental Research Farm of SASRD, Medziphema campus, Nagaland University during 2015- ‘016 to study the effect of different levels of nitrogen and potassium on the growth and yield of Pepino (Solanum muricatum Ait). Experiment was conducted with 16 treatments and three replication in Randomised Block Design (RBD) with two factors. Each treatment was a combination of one Nitrogen and one Potassium level. The Nitrogen levels were varied 0(N_o), 60(N₁), 80(N₂) and 100(N₃) kg ha^-1. The Potassium levels were, supply of Potassium 0(K₀), 30(K₁), 45(K₂) and 60(K₃) kg ha­^-1.Nitrogen and Potassium showed significant influence on the growth and yield parameter. The obtained result indicated that growth parameter viz., plant height (cm), leaf area (cm²) per plant, number of branches per plant significantly increase with increase doses of nitrogen up to 100 kg/ha. Fruit per plant, fruit per plot, fruit weight also increase with increased levels of nitrogen and potassium. Potassium also had significant effect on growth parameters. The combination of nitrogen and potassium N₁₀₀K₆₀ treatment (100 kg N +60 kg K/ha) gave best result in growth parameter and yield parameter. Therefore, the result showed that 100 kg N/ha and 60 kg K/ha alone with their combination had influence greatly on vegetative growth and yield.