Effect of foliar applied nitrogen with growth regulators (2,4 D, GA₃, Amrut-pani) and soil applied potassium on the management of the rough-skin disorder of Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata blanco)

Rough-skin disorder mainly occurs in 6-12 years old young and senile orchards of Nagpur mandarin due to excess application or availability of potassium. The characteristics of rough-skinned fruits are large fruit size with rough textured peel, segments are loose intact with rind, improper fruit shape (fruit length to breadth ratio is equal to one or more than one), reduced juice per cent and TSS.

Based on the incidence of rough-skin disorder, an orchard of Nagpur mandarin was earmarked at Hetikundi village of Wardha district, Maharashtra for Mrig bahar during 2020. The selected orchards are 10 years old, spaced at 6 m × 6 m and grafted on Rangpur lime rootstock. At harvest, yield and yield attributes, fruit physical characteristics and critical quality characteristics viz. TSS, acidity, TSS/ acidity ratio and vitamin C content of disordered and normal fruits were recorded according to treatments.

Foliar application of plant growth regulators like 2,4-D 15 ppm and GA₃ 15 ppm and reducing soil application of potassium in high potassium available soils reduced the rough skin and improved the rind texture and physicochemical characteristics at harvesting in mrig bahar.