Improvement of old ber cv. Gola orchard through bunding and micro-nutrients management

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in 15-year-old established ber cv. Gola orchard. This orchard was showing zinc and boron deficiency and poor moisture retention. The plants were supplied with boron (0.3 and 0.6% borax) and zinc (0.2 and 0.4% zinc sulphate) at two stages viz., before flowering and after fruit set. Maximum fruit set (7.7%), minimum fruit drop (20.83%) and maximum fruit yield (7.29 t/ha) were recorded with 0.6% borax and 0.4% zinc sulphate combinations. Under normal rainfall bunding influenced the fruit yield (6.49 t/ha) through maintaining the sufficient moisture regime during fruit growth and development phase. The physico-chemical composition of fruit was significantly influenced with foliar spray of 0.3-0.6% borax and 0.2-0.4% zinc sulphate. The tree produced 0.88 - 1.09 t leaves (pala) utilised as fodder by goats during lean period (April-May).