EFFECT OF INTEGRATED ORGANIC INORGANIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT ON VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF LOW-CHILLING APPLE (MALUS × DOMESTICA BORKH.) CV. HRMN-99 UNDER SUBTROPICAL CONDITIONS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2023-24 and 2024-25 to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on the vegetative growth of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) cv. HRMN-99. The experiment comprised eleven treatments laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. Observations on plant height, plant spread, number of primary and secondary branches, stem girth, leaf area and leaf area index (LAI) were recorded at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after treatment application, and the data were analysed for individual years and pooled over the two years. Treatment effects on plant height, plant spread and the number of primary and secondary branches were non-significant at 30 days, but became significant from 60 days onwards and persisted up to 120 days in both years and in the pooled data. Stem girth and leaf area were also significantly influenced by the treatments, whereas LAI did not differ significantly. Among the treatments, T₁₁ consistently recorded the best growth performance. At 120 days, it recorded the maximum plant height (3.94 m), plant spread (279.42 cm), number of primary branches (6.77), number of secondary branches (68.49), stem girth (31.48 cm) and leaf area (42.68 cm²) on a pooled basis. It was statistically at par with T₁₀ for most of these parameters. The minimum values were recorded under T₁ for all parameters (2.88 m, 211.90 cm, 5.41, 54.12, 23.17 cm and 36.93 cm², respectively). The results indicate that the integrated nutrient management practice followed in T₁₁ was the most effective in promoting vegetative growth of apple cv. HRMN-99.