Requirement of major nutrients for annatto (Bixa orellana L.) seed yield and bixin content

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during 2002-07 at CHES, Chettalli, Karnataka to study the optimum requirement of major nutrients for the optimum seed yield and bixin content in annatto plant. Application of 140 g N + 60 g P2O5 + 150 g K2O/pl/year recorded higher seed yield (2.674 kg/plant) and bixin content than other treatments. Response Surface Model analysis revealed that the optimum dose of N and K2O (with fixed P2O5) for optimum seed yield (2.99 kg/plant) would be 103.15 and 134.94 g/plant, respectively and the optimum dose of the nutrients would be 102.81 g/plant of N and 134.06 g/plant of K2O for the optimum (2.6%) bixin content