Potassium Fertilizer Source and Timing Regulate Growth, Flowering and Yield in Trees of Sweet Lime (Citrus limetta L.)
Potassium Fertilizer Source and Timing Regulate Growth, Flowering and Yield in Trees of Sweet Lime (Citrus limetta L.)
Muhammad Noman Khan* and Ghulam Nabi
ABSTRACT
Sweet lime has acquired great commercial importance globally particularly in juice and medical industry. However, its poor yield discourage farmers from its cultivation. Plant nutrients particularly Potassium plays critical role in growth and yield of citrus crops. Therefore, for the possible solution the current study Potassium fertilizer source and timing regulate growth, flowering and yield in trees of sweet lime (Citrus limetta L.) was conducted during the year 2019. Experiment was laid out in RCBD split plot arrangement with 2 factors and 3 replications. Potassium sources (Potassium chloride (KCl), Potassium sulfate (K2SO4) and Potassium nitrate (KNO3) were applied on different dates i.e., 15th Feb, 25th Feb, 7th March and 17th March. Potassium sources and its time of application significantly affected various attributes of sweet lime. Among different sources, KNO3 was more effective in increasing leaf chlorophyll content (46.47 mg g-1 FW), leaf area shoot-1 (135.29 cm2), fruit weight (85.64 g) number of fruits tree-1 (808.75) and fruit yield tree-1 (69.48 kg). Potassium sulfate application decreased days to full bloom (33.58). Whereas the application of potassium sources on 17th March significantly increased leaf chlorophyll content (44.31 mg g-1 FW), leaf area shoot-1 (127.95 cm2), number of fruits tree-1 (739.52), fruit yield tree-1 (63.68 kg) and reduced days to full bloom (20). Hence it is recommended that KNO3 must be applied on 17th March (mid of March) for better growth and yield attributes of sweet lime.
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