Calcium nutrition influencing yield and fruit quality of dragon fruit

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the influence of calcium fertilization upon mineral content and fruit quality attributes of dragon fruit. Soil application of calcium @ 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 600 g hill⁻¹ year⁻¹ were made. The attributes such as fruit yield, weight, pulp firmness, Total Soluble Solids, reducing and non-reducing sugars, protein, pigment betacyanin, total flavonoid, FRAP activity and total phenol together with minerals such as N, K, B, Cu, Ca and Zn in dragon fruit pulp were maximally obtained with application of Ca @ 400g hill⁻¹ year⁻¹. Though, the attainment of Mg, P, Mn and Fe were more at a lower dose of calcium nutrition (200g hill⁻¹ year⁻¹). The correlations were substantial between the calcium content in the pulp and fruit quality attributes, which provides a conclusive indication of positive impact of calcium fertilization in increasing yield and fruit quality in dragon fruit, grown in acidic soils. The present study demonstrates the dose 400g calcium hill⁻¹ year⁻¹ as the most optimum level under acidic soil conditions, for harnessing an enhanced yield with improved quality characteristics in dragon fruit.