Integrated Nutrient Management in Manila Tamarind (Pithecellobium dulce): Growth and Yield Response
Krishna Surendar K
Regional Research Station, Aruppukottai. Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
P. Balasubramanian
Regional Research Station, Aruppukottai. Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
ChelviRamessh
ICAR - Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
Sathiyavani E *
Regional Research Station, Aruppukottai. Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India and Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India.
Krishna Kumar S
ICAR - Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
B.Venudevan
ICAR - Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
Nallakurumban B
ICAR - Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The experiment was conducted at Regional Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Aruppukottai from 2019-2024 and laid in a Randomized Block design with four replications. The plots had nine treatments viz., T1 - RDF of NPK / Tree (1 Kg N, 2 Kg P and 1 Kg K), T2 - FYM 10Kg/Tree, T3 - Vermicompost 5Kg / Tree, T4 - 50% RDF of NPK, T5 - 50% RDF of NPK + 5 Kg FYM/tree, T6 - 50% RDF of NPK + 2.5 Kg Vermicompost, T7 - 50% RDF of NPK + 5 Kg FYM +100 g Phosphobacteria, T8 - 50% RDF of NPK + 2.5 Kg Vermicompost +2.5 Kg FYM + 100 g Phosphobacteria, T9 - Control. The variety PKM – 1 was used as experimental material with all normal cultural practices followed for manila tamarind cultivation during 2023-2024. Three trees were selected from each treatment and replications for recording observations on Tree height (m), Girth (cm), Number of primary branches per Tree, no of secondary branches per Tree and Tree spread East – West and North – South (m). The soil application of 50% RDF of NPK (0.5kg N,1kg P and 0.5kg K + 2.5 kg vermicompost + 2.5 kg FYM+100g Phosphobacteria) performed superior and significantly increased in tree height (7.55 m), tree Girth (83.0 cm), number of Primary branches (5.0 tree-1), number of Secondary branches (22.0 Tree-1), and tree spread (6.30 East - West, 7.44 North - South).
Keywords: Integrated nutrient management, morphological characters, manila tamarind