Vol. 12, Issue 8 (2023)

Author(s):
Anchal, Dr. Yogendra Singh, Neha Kumari, Yogendra Kumar Sharma, Dr. Divya Slathia, Neelam Devi, Rajni Thakur and Yamini Guleria

Abstract:
The present investigation was carried out during 2022-2023 at Experimental Research Farm Chhapang of Dr. Khem Singh Gill, Akal College of Agriculture, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Sirmour, (Himachal Pradesh) to evaluate the effect of micronutrients through foliar application on growth, yield and benefit cost ratio of strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cv. Camarosa under the polyhouse condition. It consists of 16 treatments (with 4 different levels of micronutrients) with three replications and one cultivar Camarosa. The outcomes exposed that the maximum plant growth attributes, yield attributes including plant height (30.12 cm), plant spread East-West (40.11 cm), plant spread North-South (40.08 cm), number of leaves/plant (22.73), leaf length (6.83 cm), leaf width (6.73 cm), leaf area (68.87 cm²), canopy volume (101439.62 cm³), chlorophyll content A at initial stage (0.92 mg/g) and final stage (1.07 mg/g), chlorophyll content B at initial stage (1.60 mg/g) and final stage (1.86 mg/g), total chlorophyll content at initial stage (2.51 mg/g) and final stage (2.93 mg/g), number of flowers/plant (21.49), number of fruits/plant (21.24), fruit set (98.84%), yield/plant (461.33 g), yield/plot (11.07kg), yield/ha (22.14tonnes) of strawberry were obtained under the treatment T₁₅ {B+ Cu + Fe + Zn (0.5% each)}.The cost analysis showed that treatment combination T₁₅{B+ Cu + Fe + Zn (0.5% each)} resulted in highest benefit cost ratio (3.41) and minimum benefit cost ratio (1.53) in the treatment T₀ (control). Hence, the primary objective of the research was to enhance the growth and quality of the fruit production of the Camarosa cultivar with combined foliar application of micronutrients such as {(B+ Cu + Fe + Zn (0.5% each)} under protected conditions. This approach proved to be effective and can be utilized by farmers to enhance yield and generate more income per unit area.