Impact of Different Pruning Severity and Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Lemon cv. Assam Lemon (Citrus limon Burm.)

Impact of Different Pruning Severity and Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield of Lemon cv. Assam Lemon (Citrus limon Burm.)

Like many other citrus species, the lemon (Citrus limon Burm.) presents a number of diverse forms slightly varying from each other. Pruning is one of the important approaches for the canopy management of citrus. The result of pruning on growth parameters have been reported by various workers. It is also a highly nutrient responsive perennial fruit crop and requires adequate nutrition for proper growth and yield of the plants. A field experiment was laid out in two factorial Randomized Block Design with four levels of pruning, seven levels of nutrient, consisting .recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) and different combinations of organic manure (Vermicompost), inorganic fertilizer, bio-fertilizer (Azotobacter),mycorrhiza (VAM) and their interaction during 2013 to 2015.The investigation revealed that all the vegetative parameters viz. trunk girth (32.74cm, 33.26cm and 33.13cm) and its percentage increase (1.25%, 2.88% and 4.56%), canopy volume (85.22 m3 , 100.03 m3 and 125.84 m3 ) and its percentage increase (31.66%, 56.21% and 114.24%), number of laterals per primary shoot (9.53, 11.87 and 10.80) and its percentage increase (31.65%, 63.64% and 98.25%) and leaf chlorophyll content (1.45%, 1.94% and 2.56%) and its percentage increase (48.61%, 98.41% and 172.80%) was recorded best in highest level of pruning with 75% RDF + Vermicompost + Azotobacter + Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza at 6th, 12th and 18th month after pruning. Among the three season of cropping Ambebahar recorded the best result in respect to yield (total number of fruits/plant) followed by Mrig and Hasthbahar. .