Horticulture
| Open Access |
DOI: Enhancing Fruit Growth of Daisy Mandarin (Citrus Reticulata) Through Foliar Application of Manganese and Iron
Bindia , Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo (Punjab), 151302 Dr. Navdeep Singh , Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo (Punjab), 151302 Mr. Gurdeep Singh , Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo (Punjab), 151302 Dr. M.K. Kaul , Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo (Punjab), 151302Abstract
The study titled “Impact of Micronutrients (Mn and Fe) on Vegetative Growth of Daisy Mandarin (Citrus reticulata)” was carried out during 2024–25 at Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo, Punjab. The research aimed to assess the effects of foliar applications of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) on the vegetative growth, fruit physical attributes, chemical composition, and overall quality of Daisy mandarin. Manganese sulphate (MnSO₄) and ferrous sulphate (FeSO₄) were applied at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%, both individually and in combination. The experiment followed a Randomized Block Design, comprising sixteen treatments with four replications, resulting in sixty-four treatment combinations. It was conducted in a six-year-old Daisy mandarin orchard budded on Jatti Khatti (Citrus jambhiri Lush) rootstock. Key parameters measured included scion girth, rootstock girth, and canopy volume. The treatment combining 0.3% MnSO₄ and 0.2% FeSO₄ yielded the most significant improvements in vegetative parameters, with a scion girth of 10.20 cm, rootstock girth of 9.8 cm, and canopy volumes of 134.0 m³ (north-south) and 115.0 m³ (east-west), compared to the control. These findings demonstrate that foliar application of MnSO₄ and FeSO₄, across various combinations, markedly enhanced the vegetative growth of Daisy mandarin under subtropical conditions. The study underscores the importance of micronutrient supplementation in improving orchard productivity and provides valuable insights for subtropical horticulture practices.
Keywords
Daisy mandarin, Citrus reticulata, manganese sulphate, ferrous sulphate, foliar application, micronutrients, vegetative growth, subtropical horticulture, Randomized Block Design, Jatti Khatti rootstock
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