Management of Apple Orchards by Plant Bio-regulators and Nutrient Sprays for Improvement in

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Management of Apple Orchards by Plant Bio-regulators
and Nutrient Sprays for Improvement in Growth,
Yield and Quality of Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.)
cv. Red Delicious

Syed Shamim Ahmed Simnani
(2005-131-D)

Division of Fruit Science
Faculty of Postgraduate Studies
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences &
Technology of Kashmir

2012
1
Management of Apple Orchards by Plant Bio-regulators
and Nutrient Sprays for Improvement in Growth,
Yield and Quality of Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.)
cv. Red Delicious

Syed Shamim Ahmed Simnani
(2005-131-D)

Thesis

Submitted to

The Faculty of Postgraduate Studies
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences &
Technology of Kashmir
in partial fulfilment of requirement for the award of the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture

(Fruit Science)

2012
2
3
Sher-e-Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir
Division of Fruit Science, Shalimar Campus Srinagar
191 121

Certificate – I

This is to certify that the thesis entitled, “Management of
Apple Orchards by Plant Bio-regulators and Nutrient Sprays for
Improvement in Growth, Yield and Quality of Apple (Malus
domestica Borkh.) cv. Red Delicious” submitted in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in Horticulture (Fruit Science), to the Faculty of
Postgraduate Studies, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural
Sciences & Technology of Kashmir is a record of bonafide research
work carried out by Mr. Syed Shamim Ahmed Simnani (Regd. No.
2005-131-D) under my supervision and guidance. No part of the
thesis has been submitted for any other degree or diploma.
It is further certified that information received during the course
of investigation has duly been acknowledged.

( Dr. Wali Mohd. Wani )
Chairman
Advisory Committee

Endorsed

Prof. & Head,
Division of Fruit Science
4
Sher-e-Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir
Division of Fruit Science, Shalimar Campus Srinagar
191 121

Certificate – II

We, the members of the Advisory Committee of Mr. Syed
Shamim Ahmed Simnani (Regd. No. 2005-131-D), a candidate for
the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture (Fruit Science)
have gone through the manuscript of the thesis entitled
“Management of Apple Orchards by Plant Bio-regulators and
Nutrient Sprays for Improvement in Growth, Yield and Quality
of Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cv. Red Delicious” and
recommend that it may be submitted by the student in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree.

Advisory Committee

Chairman Dr. Wali Mohd. Wani
Associate Professor, Division of Fruit Science
Members

Prof. F.A. Banday
Associate Director Extension Education (Agri.)

Dr. F.A. Khan
Associate Professor (Plant Physiology), Division
of Post Harvest Technology

Dr. Javid Ahmad Wani
Associate Professor, Division of Soil Science

Dean PG Nominee Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad
Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura
5
Sher-e-Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir
Shalimar Campus Srinagar– 191 121

Certificate – III

This is to certify that the thesis entitled, “Management of
Apple Orchards by Plant Bio-regulators and Nutrient Sprays for
Improvement in Growth, Yield and Quality of Apple (Malus
domestica Borkh.) cv. Red Delicious” submitted by Mr. Syed
Shamim Ahmed Simnani (Regd. No. 2005-131-D) to the Faculty of
Postgraduate Studies, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural
Sciences & Technology of Kashmir in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in
Horticulture (Fruit Science) was examined and approved by the
Advisory Committee and External Examiner on …………….

Chairman External Examiner
Advisory Committee

Prof. & Head,
Division of Fruit Science

Director Resident Instruction-cum-Dean
Postgraduate Studies, SKUAST-K

6
Sher-e-Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir
Division of Fruit Science, Shalimar Campus Srinagar – 191 121

Name of the student : Syed Shamim Ahmed Simnani
Registration No. : 2005-131-D
Major subject : Fruit Science
Minor subject : Plant Physiology
Major advisor : Dr. Wali Mohd. Wani
Associate Professor,
Division of Fruit Science,
SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar
Title of the Thesis : “Management of Apple Orchards by
Plant Bio-regulators and Nutrient Sprays
for Improvement in Growth, Yield and
Quality of Apple (Malus domestica
Borkh.) cv. Red Delicious”

ABSTRACT
The present investigations were carried out under two independent
experiments at private orchards of district Pulwama, Kashmir viz., a) Foliar sprays
with plant bio-regulators consisting of nine treatments, b) Foliar sprays with
chemical nutrients consisting of 16 treatments. The experiments were laid out in a
randomized block design, replicated thrice. Foliar sprays of plant bio-regulators
and nutrients were carried thrice during the season at pre-bloom and 30 and 60
days after pre-bloom, respectively. Amongst plant bio-regulators, GA at 40 µg
3
ml-1 significantly improved all vegetative growth parameters in terms of tree
height, tree spread, tree volume, trunk cross-sectional area, trunk girth and shoot
extension growth; flowering duration; fruit yield tree-1 and productivity ha-1;
however, flowering intensity was maximum with NAA at 15 µg ml-1. The final
fruit set was maximum and fruit drop minimum under the treatment of PP333 at
2000 µg ml-1. Fruit physical characteristics in terms of fruit weight, fruit length
and L/D ratio were maximum with GA at 40 µg ml-1. However, fruit diameter
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was highest with BA at 20 µg ml-1 and fruit colour and fruit firmness were
maximum with PP333 at 2000 µg ml-1. Fruit chemical composition in terms of
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TSS and acidity were highest under treatment of BA at 20 µg ml-1, while vitamin
C content was maximum with GA at 40 µg ml-1. Phosphorus, calcium and boron
3
concentration in fruit was highest under the treatment of PP333 at 2000 µg ml-1,
nitrogen content under the treatment of BA at 20 µg ml-1 and potassium and
magnesium contents under the treatment of GA at 40 µg ml-1. Amongst nutrient
3
sprays, K SO (0.4%) + CaCl (0.4%) + H BO (0.1%) + ZnSO (0.4%) recorded
2 4 2 3 3 4
highest growth characters in terms of tree height, tree volume, tree spread, trunk
cross-sectional area, trunk girth and shoot extension growth; fruit yield tree-1 and
ha-1. However, nutrient sprays with K SO (0.4%) + H BO (0.1%) + ZnSO
2 4 3 3 4
(0.4%) recorded highest flowering intensity, initial and final fruit set and lowest
fruit drop and H BO at 0.1% recorded maximum flowering duration. The
3 3
physical fruit characteristics in terms of fruit weight, fruit length, fruit volume and
fruit diameter were maximum under the treatment of K SO (0.4%) + CaCl
2 4 2
(0.4%) + H BO (0.1%) + ZnSO (0.4%) and L/D ratio was highest with H BO
3 3 4 3 3
(0.1%) + ZnSO (0.4%). Maximum fruit colour was obtained under the treatment
4
of K SO (0.4%) + CaCl (0.4%) + H BO (0.1%) + ZnSO (0.4%), while fruit
2 4 2 3 3 4
firmness was highest with K SO (0.4%) + CaCl (0.4%) + ZnSO4 (0.4%). The
2 4 2
chemical composition in terms of TSS and vitamin C content in fruit was
maximum under the treatment of K SO (0.4%) + CaCl (0.4%) + H BO (0.1%)
2 4 2 3 3
+ ZnSO (0.4%) and SAR was highest with the treatment of H BO (0.1%) +
4 3 3
ZnSO (0.4%). Fruit nitrogen concentration was highest with CaCl (0.4%) +
4 2
ZnSO (0.4%); phosphorus and calcium content under the treatment of CaCl
4 2
(0.4%) + H BO (0.1%) + ZnSO (0.4%); potassium and magnesium content
3 3 4
under the treatment of K SO (0.4%) + H BO (0.1%) + ZnSO (0.4%) and boron
2 4 3 3 4
concentration with K SO (0.4%) + CaCl (0.4%) + H BO (0.1%) + ZnSO
2 4 2 3 3 4
(0.4%). Among the various nutrient combinations, K SO + CaCl + H BO +
2 4 2 3 3
ZnSO proved to be superior over all the other treatments which was at par with
4
K SO + H BO + ZnSO and resulted in higher yield of quality fruits. Results
2 4 3 3 4
depicted a positive relationship between increasing nutrient combination and
vegetative growth, fruit set and higher productivity of quality fruits.

Key words : Apple, growth characters, physical and chemical characteristics,
nutrient concentration.

Signature of Student Signature of Major Advisor

Dated : __________ Dated: ________________

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ALL PRAISE TO ALMIGHTY ALLAH, WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE TO
COMPLETE THIS WORK
W ith deep sense of gratitude and profound reverence, I place on record my
sincere thanks to esteemed Chairman of my Advisory Committee, Dr.
Wali Mohammad Wani, Associate Professor-cum-Senior Scientist, Division of
Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir for his selfless, never failing interest, constant
moral encouragement and inspiration, constructive criticism, valuable guidance,
extra-ordinary patience during the entire course of investigation which enabled
me to complete this manuscript.
Earnest thanks and regards are extended to worthy members of my
Advisory Committee, Prof. F.A. Banday, Associate Director Extension (Agri.);
Dr. J.A. Wani, Associate Professor, Division of Soil Science; Dr. Farooq A.
Khan, Associate Professor (Plant Physiology) and Professor Mushtaq Ahmad,
Dean, Faculty of Agriculture (Dean PG Nominee) for their intellectual
guidance, positive criticism, suggestions and unrelenting help during the course
of the programme.
I am highly indebted and grateful to Dr. M.S. Wani, Professor & Head,
Division of Fruit Science for providing necessary facilities required for carrying
out the research and other laboratory work from time to time, besides providing
scientific/technical guidance, constant inspiration and it is his intervention and
cooperation which helped me to pursue the present study its logical end
successfully.
I express my gratitude to Dr. M.A. Rangrez, Programme Coordinator,
Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ganderbal for the logistic support he rendered me in
compilation of this manuscript.
I am highly obliged and grateful to Prof. M.Y. Ghani (Associate Director
Research), Prof. F.A. Misgar, Prof. Tahir Ali, Dr. M.Y. Bhat, Dr. Qayum A.
Reshi, Dr. Khalid Mushtaq, Dr. Khalid Rasool, Dr. M.K. Sharma, Dr. M.
Ashraf Dar and other scientists of Division of Fruit Science for their indelible
help, continuous moral support and their personal involvement in completion of
this manuscript.
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Sincere thanks are due to Dr. Shakeel A. Mir, Associate Professor,
Division of Agri-Statistics for the help extended in statistical analysis of the
data.
I am thankful and shall remain indebted to SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar
for sponsoring my doctoral degree programme in Fruit Science.
I thankfully acknowledge the help rendered by field as well as technical
and ministerial staff of Ambri Apple Research Station, Balpora/Pahnoo;
laboratory staff of Nutrition and Quality Control Lab, Division of Fruit
Science, SKUAST-Kashmir during the course of entire investigation.
Help and facilities provided by the staff members of Central Library, CD
ROM of ARIS, SKUAST-Kashmir are extremely acknowledged.
Thanks are due to Mr. Younus Ahmad Bhat and Mr. Rafiq Ahmad of
M/s Universal Computers, Shalimar for composing and printing of this
manuscript elegantly.
I am indebted to my reverend parents, brothers, sisters, their children and
my kids who stood at my back at the time they needed my affection and
attention and for their moral inspiration during the entire course of the study
programme.

SSSSyyyyeeeedddd SSSShhhhaaaammmmiiiimmmm AAAAhhhhmmmmeeeedddd SSSSiiiimmmmnnnnaaaannnniiii

Place : Shalimar, Srinagar

Dated :

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