GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSE OF APPLE AS INFLUENCED BY LIQUID FERTILIZERS (BIOFERT) APPLICATION

Apple is the major fruit crop due to its high nutritional significance and taste. High yield and better quality in apple is highly dependent of optimum fertilizer doses. The present study was aimed in 2012 to check the effect of liquid fertilizers (Biofert (N=3%, P=1%, K=2%) and micronutrients (Ca, Zn, S, Mg, Cl, B, Mo, Cu, Fe, Mn, Co and Ni less than 1%) on growth and yield off apple, alone and in combination with conventional fertilizers (N: P: K 800: 400: 400 g/plant). The experiment was done according to randomized complete block design (RCBD) comprised of six treatments and four replications, in consecutive four years. Parameters regarding the physiological, growth aspects of the apple trees as well as pre and post-harvest analysis of fruit were carried out to evaluate the effect of different nutrient doses on plant growth and produce. Among the growth parameters maximum fruit weight was found in T3 (155 g) and comparatively higher results of fruit yield per plant were obtained in T5 (42 kg). Post-harvest fruit analysis given the best results regarding Juice (56.7%) and Pulp (39.1%) with T3. Vitamin C (2.8 mg/100 ml) was higher T3 and T4 and highest TSS 11.6% was observed in T3. It was concluded that liquid fertilizers along with the conventional fertilizers played an important role to enhance the fruit quality and yield in the climatic conditions of Sunny Bank (7000 ft altitude), Murree.