Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Yield and Quality of Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus L.) under Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh, India
Manoj Gaund *
Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Nidhika Thakur
Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Vigya Mishra
Department of Post Harvest Technology, College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Vishal Chugh
Department of Basic and Social Science, College of Horticulture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Integrated nutrient management may influence dragon fruit productivity under the semi-arid conditions of Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh. This investigation evaluated inorganic nutrients combined with farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost and poultry manure for their effects on yield and selected fruit-quality characteristics of red-fleshed dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus L.). A field experiment was conducted during 2024 and 2025 at the fruit orchard of Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda. Uniform four-year-old plants, spaced 4 m × 4 m apart, were assigned to thirteen nutrient treatments in a randomised block design with three replications. Organic and inorganic nutrient inputs were applied in four split doses. Observations included fruit number, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit yield, total soluble solids and chlorophyll content. The highest pooled values were obtained under T12, comprising 60% NPK and 40% of a combination of FYM, vermicompost and poultry manure. This treatment produced 46.46 fruits per plant, a fruit weight of 336.72 g, a fruit length of 11.68 cm and a fruit yield of 15.15 kg per plant. Total soluble solids reached 15.87 °Brix, while chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll were 1.92, 0.74 and 2.65 mg/g, respectively. Of the treatments investigated, T12 showed the most favourable overall response in the measured attributes. The findings apply to the experimental conditions and require validation in other growing environments.
Keywords: Dragon fruit, Hylocereus polyrhizus, integrated nutrient management, inorganic fertilisers, farmyard manure, vermicompost, poultry manure, fruit yield, total soluble solids, chlorophyll content