Effect of different spacings and nutrient levels on growth, yield and quality in sweet orange (Citrus Sinensis (L.) Osbeck) cv. Mosambi

The field experiment was carried out at All India Coordinated Research Project on Fruits, Department of Horticulture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during the Ambia bahar, 2014 to study the effect of different spacings and nutrient levels on growth, yield and quality in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) cv. Mosambi. There were twelve treatment combinations and the experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design (FRBD), wherein each treatment was replicated thrice. The study revealed that, the treatment T₂ (S₁ L₂) i. e. recommended spacing 6 x 6 m with 50% RDF through inorganic source + 50% RDF through organic source-Vermicompost proved superior and recorded maximum canopy volume (12.14 m³), scion girth (43.05 cm), number of fruits (215.00 fruits/tree), fruit weight (177.17 g), fruit yield (38.15 kg/tree), TSS (10.00° Brix) and total sugar (5.98%) with minimum rind thickness (3.40 mm). Whereas, plant height, juice, acidity, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, number of seeds/fruit and weight of seeds/fruit showed non-significant differences due to various treatments offered. The treatment T9 (S₃ L₁) i. e. spacing 6 x 4 m with 75% RDF through inorganic source + 25% RDF through organic source-FYM recorded maximum fruit yield (12.28 t/ha) because of more number of trees per hectare.