Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

Author(s):
Pulidindi Leela Janaki, Dr. J Dilip Babu, Dr. D Venkata Swami, Dr. M Kalpana, Dr. D Salomi Suneetha and Dr. B Chennakesavulu

Abstract:
A field study was carried out to know the effect of fertigation on flowering characters of cocoa grown as intercrop in existing coconut garden in a farmer’s field located in Ankampalem village of East Godavari District during 2019 to 2021. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with seven treatments having three replications with different combinations of water soluble fertilizers applied through drip and soil application. The flowering characters like flowers per main stem, flowers per fan branches, total flowers per tree and cherelles per tree were recorded after fertigation from July to December for both the years. Based on the results, the highest number of flowers per main stem (1131.42 & 1087.36), flowers per fan branches (4117.44 & 4128.77) and total flowers per tree (5248.86 & 5227.46) were recorded in the trees treated with 125% RDF through fertigation in the year 2019 and 2020 respectively. The results regarding total number of cherelles per tree (67.69 & 66.43), total number of pods harvested (61.39 & 65.42) and percentage of pod set (2.50% & 2.55%) were recorded highest in the plants treated with 125% RDF through drip irrigation in the year 2019 and 2020 respectively. The above results indicated that application of 125% RDF as water soluble fertilizers through drip irrigation was recommended in black deltaic soils of coastal Andhra Pradesh to promote flowering characters of cocoa.