Responses of Different Levels of Pruning and Biofertilizer on Fruit Growth and Quality of Assam Lemon [Citrus limon (L.) Burm] under the Foothills of Arunachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted in the Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, during the year 2021-2022. The trial was laid out using two factorial RBD replicated thrice. Assam lemon trees were pruned at 25% (P1), 50% (P2) from the top apex and soil drenching with Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 90g/plant (B1), Trichoderma @ 90g/plant (B2), Azotobacter @ 15g/plant (B3) and a combination of PGPR (Pseudomonas fluorescens) @ 90g/plant + Trichoderma @ 90g/plant + Azotobacter @ 15g/plant (B4) at two feet away from the tree trunk with the interaction of both factors and were compared with control. The results revealed that the morphological and biochemical characters were significantly affected by high pruning intensity (50%) and biofertilizers treatment B4 (Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 90g/plant + Trichoderma @ 90g/plant + Azotobacter @ 15g/plant) and their combinations. It was concluded that the treatment P2B4 pruning 50% + Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 90g/plant + Trichoderma @ 90g/plant + Azotobacter @ 15g/plant in Assam lemon were vital for fruit morphological and biochemical characteristics.