Assessment of acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swangle) varieties for yield and quality traits

The present study on Assessment of acid lime varieties for growth, yield and quality traits suitable for Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu was conducted at Citrus Research Station, Vannikonenthal and demonstrated at ten different farmers’ field at Vannikonenthal village of Manur block, Tirunelveli district during 2021- 2022. The observation on growth, yield, quality parameters and cost economic traits were recorded. The results revealed that PKM1 variety recorded the highest values for the traits such as plant height (3.63 m), tree spread (3.26 m E-W; 3.58 m N-S), canopy volume (7.583 m³), fruit girth (3.65 cm), fruit weight (46.70 g), fruit volume (44.20 cc), number of fruits per tree (1006.25), yield per tree (41.60 kg/tree), yield per ha (12.76 t/ha), TSS (7.86 ^oBrix), fruit juice content (37.50 ml), acidity (6.501 %) and ascorbic acid content (32.15 mg/100g), followed by Balaji whereas the lowest values was found in farmers’ practices (Puliyankudi local) (3.15 m; 2.90 E-W; 3.32 N-S; 4.93 m³; 3.35 cm; 39.50 g; 37.30 cc; 35.77 kg/ tree; 9.91 t/ha; 6.78 ^oBrix; 31.30 ml, 6.35 %; 24.10 mg/100g).Furter, it was found that PKM1 recorded the highest net returns of Rs. 1,40,100/ ha with the B:C ratio of 2.22 followed by Balaji (Rs. 1,17,500/ha; 2.04). However, the farmers’ practices registered the lowest net profit (Rs. 82,000/ha) and benefit cost ratio (1.71). The incidence of bacterial canker observed that the lowest incidence was recorded in PKM1 and Balaji whereas the highest incidence was noticed in farmer’s practices (23.25 %). PKM1 registered 28.0 per cent increased yield over farmers’ practice.