Optimizing phalsa (cv. Local) growth, flowering, and yield parameters through round-the-year pruning and fertilizer management

Abstract: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of round-the-year pruning and fertilizer doses on phalsa cv’s growth, flowering and yield parameters. Local during 2020-21 and 2021-22 at Horticulture Research Farm, Anand Agricultural University, Anand. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design (Factorial) with two factors, eighteen treatment combinations, and three repetitions. The first factor was pruning time (P₁= 1^st week of January (Control), P₂= 1^st week of March, P₃= 1^st week of May, P₄= 1^st week of July, P₅= 1^st week of September and P₆= 1^st week of November) and the second factor was fertilizer doses (F₁= 100:50:50 g NPK/plant (Control), F₂= 200:75:75 g NPK/plant, F₃= 300:100:100 g NPK/plant). The results revealed that pruning in 1^st week of May (P₃) recorded minimum days for sprouting new shoots after pruning. Pruning in 1^st week of March (P₂) resulted in the maximum number of sprouted shoots per cane, length of the shoot at harvest, weight of fruit per plant, fruit yield and minimum days taken for flowering, fruit set and first picking after pruning. A fertilizer dose of 300:100:100 g NPK/plant (F₃) recorded minimum days for sprouting of new shoots, maximum number of sprouted shoots per cane and length of shoot at harvest. The shortest duration for flowering, fruit set, and initial harvest was observed using a fertilizer dose of 100:50:50 g NPK per plant (Control) (F1). The application of 200:75:75 g NPK per plant (F2) was most effective for maximum fruit weight and overall yield of phalsa. Furthermore, this fertiliser dose significantly boosted phalsa yields when combined with pruning during the first week of March.