Vol. 8, Issue 5 (2019)

Author(s):
Abdul Rouf, Shakeel Ahmad Mir and Poonam Sharma

Abstract:
The experiment was conducted during the year 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 on Gopalpora horticultural nursery of district budgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Twenty healthy trees of apple (CV Royal delicious) of uniform size, Age, and vigour were selected from the orchard site for experimental purpose. Three levels each of calcium (90gm, 110gm and 130gm) and boron (8gm, 10gm and 12gm) were applied during the early spring 15 days prior to bloom on the selected trees to ascertain the effect of soil application of calcium and boron on yield and physi-co-chemical characteristics of apple (CV. Royal delicious). Significant differences were observed among the treatments for all the physical and chemical characteristics studied. Soil application of calcium and boron significantly influenced the yield and post-harvest quality of Royal delicious apple cultivar. Among the treatments Soil application of 110gm of calcium+ 10gm of boron (C2B2) recorded highest average fruit yield (19.85 Kg), average fruit diameter (68.08 mm), T.S.S (11.05⁰ Brix), Total sugar (9.59%), besides % age increase in yield over control treatment (C0B0), whereas ascorbic acid content was recorded highest (7.13mg/100g) in C1B2(90gm calcium+10gm boron). Based on observations recorded treatment C2B2 was found to be most effective treatment in improving the growth, yield and post-harvest quality characteristics of apple cv. Royal delicious. The present study confirms the feasibility of the treatment (C2B2) as soil application for better yield and post-harvest quality of apple and should be applied at least 15 days prior to bloom for best results.