INFLUENCE OF INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON PHYSIO-CHEMICAL ATTRIBUTES IN STRAWBERRY (FRAGARIA × ANANASSA DUCH.) CV. SWEET CHARLIE

Abstract

The study was conducted so as to identify most suitable integrated nutrient management (INM) practice for enhancing the physio-chemical properties of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa duch.) fruits of variety Sweet Charlie with 21 treatments and different combinations of organic and microbial sources of nutrients (Compost, Poultry Manure, Vermicompost, FYM, Azotobacter and PSB) replicated thrice with 18 plants per 2x2 m plot size in Randomized Block Design. . The study revealed that INM comprising application of vermicompost 5t/ha+ poultry manure 2.5t/ha+ Azotobacter + phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) was the best to obtain a maximum fruit yield (112.63 g plant-1), fruit weight (12.86 g), in terms of length and breadth, fruit with maximum specific gravity and highest shelf life (5.69 days),. This was much significantly higher as compared to that of the control. A similar trend was observed in the fruit bio-chemical attributes like Total Soluble Solids (7.05 °B), titratable acidity (0.64%), ascorbic acid content (53.42 mg/100 g fruit pulp), and pH (2.66) content of the harvested fruits. Hence, it can be considered the integrated application of vermicompost 5t/ha+ poultry manure 2.5t/ha +Azotobacter + PSB is most suitable INM practice for enhancing physio-chemical properties of strawberry cv. Sweet Charlie fruits as grown under Allahabad conditions.