Effect of leaf nutrient content at various age groups of guava (Psidium guajava L.) on fruit yield and quality in semi- arid region of Rajasthan

In order to evaluate effect of leaf nutrients content at flowering and harvesting stages on fruit yield and quality parameters of guava a study was conducted on the orchards found in Jaipur,Ajmer and Sawai Madhopur districts of Rajasthan. According to this study all the leaf nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc showed the positive correlationship with fruit quality parameters like total soluble solids, total sugars, total acidity, reducing sugar, ascorbic acid, fruit weight and fruit yield.  At different age groups like less than 5, 5 to 15 and more than 15 years plant showed different plant nutrient adsorption level because plant root is not able to adsorb nutrients at early age as compare to  middle age  group plants like  5 to 15 years and at more than 15 years age plant is not much vigorous as young age group plants. To study effect of leaf nutrients at different age intervals like less than 5, 5 to 15 and more than 15 plant showed different extent of effect as nutrient uptake ability differ with age. In this study, more than 15 years age group orchards were found deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus and zinc whereas potassium, iron and manganese content were in optimum range at all the studied age groups. Maximum fruit yield was observed in 5 to 15 years age group orchards at Sawai Madhopur.