Vol. 11, Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
P Leela Janaki, Dr. G Ramanandam, Dr. B Prasanna Kumar and Dr. K Sasikala

Abstract:
A field experiment was carried out to study the impact of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield characters of cocoa at existing coconut gardens, Horticultural Research Station, Ambajipeta during 2016 and 2017. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design replicated thrice with ten treatments of different combinations of organic, inorganic and biofertilizers. The growth parameters like tree height, girth, height at first branching (HAFB), canopy spread (North-South and East-West) and canopy volume were recorded before fertilizer application and eight months after fertilizer application. The results with respect to growth parameters, the tree height increment (1.16 m) and tree girth increment (1.01 cm) were recorded highest with the application of 75% RDF + 25% RDN through composted coir pith + 50 g Azospirillum + 50 g PSB. Other growth parameters like canopy spread (EW) (5.32 m), canopy spread (NS) (4.73 m) and canopy volume (30.02 m²) were also recorded highest in the same treatment. The result with respect to yield characters like number of healthy pods (55.84), weight of the pod (485.26 g), husk weight (349.68 g), wet bean weight per pod (135.58 g), dry bean weight per pod (66.60 g), single bean weight (1.57 g) and total dry bean yield per tree (3.57 kg) were recorded highest in 75% RDF + 25% RDN through composted coir pith+ 50 g Azospirillum + 50 g PSB treated trees. The above results indicated that application of 75% RDF + 25% RDN through composted coir pith + 50 g Azospirillum + 50 g PSB in black alluvial soils of Andhra Pradesh had promoted both growth and yield characters of cocoa.