FOLIAR APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM, CALCIUM, ZINC AND BORON ENHANCED YIELD, QUALITY AND SHELF LIFE OF MANGO

Mango, the national fruit of India, has developed its own importance all over the world. Being a useful and delicious fruit, it is the part of culture and religion since long time, and now, it is recognized as one of the best fruits in the world market. Calcium and potassium amongst major nutrients as well as zinc, boron amongst micro nutrients have been found to play a major role in maintenance of mango fruit quality. Moreover, for rapid response and correction of deficiencies of mineral nutrients, foliar spray of nutrients especially Ca, B, Zn and K have been used singly or in combination. The experiment was conducted on mango cv. Dashehari at Horticulture Research Centre, Patharchatta, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. The experiment involved the pre-harvest foliar spray of nutrients at 'marvel stage' of mango fruits. The treatments included CaCl2@1.2%, Borax@0.5%, K2SO4@0.5%, Ca(NO3)2@1.0%, ZnSO4@0.5%, ZnCl2@0.3% and control. The results obtained indicated that the trees sprayed with 0.5% borax showed maximum fruit yield, fruit weight, fruit volume, T.S.S., reducing sugar, non reducing sugar and ascorbic acid content, however, this treatment found to be at par with 1% Ca(NO3)2. While with regard to maintenance of post harvest fruit quality in mango, the minimum physiological loss in weight was reported in 1.0% Ca(NO3)2 followed by CaCl2 (1.2%) up to the end of 12th day. Other quality parameters like fruit TSS, sugar and ascorbic acid content were best maintained by borax, calcium and potassium treatments.