Effect of different levels of phosphorus on growth, fruit yield and quality of guava cv. Allahabad Safeda under sub-humid conditions of Bihar

Field experiment was carried out on 5 year old guava trees grown on a red sandy soil low in available P with 9 treatments (0-800g P₂O₅/tree/ year). Increasing P levels significantly increased tree growth, fruit yield and quality. The tree girth, height and volume significantly increased upto 400g compared to lower levels and marginal increase occurred at higher levels. Fruit size, total soluble solids and reducing sugar in juice significanlty increased but titratable acidity of juice decreased upto 500g but further increases in P levels showed only slight changes. The results showed that under rainfed conditions of Chotanagpur, 717 g per tree was optimum for high fruit yield. Application of P₂O₅ over 500 g per tree per year improved the fruit quality but maximum net returns per tree were obtained in 600 g/tree/year (Rs. 86.33/tree).