Comparison of Chelated and Non-Chelated Calcium in Silver Spur Apples under Temperate Conditions

Author: Tajamul Farooq Wani, S.A. Simnani, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Nayar Afaq Kirmani, Sajad Mohd Wani, Nageena Nazir, Manzoor Ahmad Parray, Sheikh Amjid, Shaila Din and Shemoo Nisar

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Abstract

Chelated fertilizers are nutrient compounds in which essential minerals are bound to organic molecules, enhancing their stability and availability to plants. When used for foliar spray, they improve nutrient uptake efficiency by penetrating the leaf's waxy surface, ensuring optimal nutrient absorption and utilization, ultimately boosting plant growth and productivity. The research study, was conducted in the Experimental Block of the Division of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture (FoH), SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, during the years 2021 and 2022 focused on the apple cultivar Silver Spur within a high-density plantation grafted onto M-7 rootstock, each plant spaced 3.5 m × 3.5 m apart. The experiment comprises of five treatments replicated four times each, with a total of 20 plants organized into a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). This comprehensive research aims to provide insights into optimizing nutrient management for enhancing apple orchard productivity under temperate conditions. Among the different chelated and non-chelated forms of CaT4: Calcium 10% EDTA Chelated @ 300 mg/l recorded robust vegetative development in terms of annual shoot extension growth of 51.91 cm, incremental plant height of 41.95 cm and substantial plant girth of 28.74 cm in. The leaves exhibit a leaf area of 34.26 cm², reflecting the overall canopy efficiency. Fruit-related characteristics, such as a Fruit attributes include a length of 8.00 cm, diameter of 7.83 cm and a balanced L/D ratio of 1.022. The fruit weighs 233.58 g and yield of 18.96 kg/plant and a yield efficiency of 0.29 kg/cm², underscore the productive capacity of the cultivar and efficiency of treatment. It is concluded that among the chelated and non-chelated nutrients under foliar applications, chelated nutrients performed better than non-chelated nutrients in terms of growth, yield and quality of high density apple cv. Silver Spur. This knowledge can guide growers in making informed decisions to enhance both the nutritional quality and productivity of the Silver Spur cultivar

Keywords

Apple cv. Silver Spur, High-density apple, Foliar nutrient application, Chelated nutrients, Orchard productivity, Temperate conditions.

Conclusion

This study confirms the superiority of chelated nutrients over non-chelated ones in stimulating the growth and yield of high-density Silver Spur apple cultivars in temperate climates. This underscores the efficacy of foliar nutrient sprays as a vital strategy for orchardists aiming to enhance orchard productivity. We advocate for the adoption of foliar nutrient applications using chelated formulations to improve both the nutritional quality and yield of Silver Spur apples. These findings provide valuable insights for growers, empowering them to make informed decisions and optimize their orchard management practices effectively. By implementing these recommendations, growers can maximize the potential of their orchards and achieve sustainable success in apple cultivation

References

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How to cite this article

Tajamul Farooq Wani, S.A. Simnani, Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, Nayar Afaq Kirmani, Sajad Mohd Wani, Nageena Nazir, Manzoor Ahmad Parray, Sheikh Amjid, Shaila Din and Shemoo Nisar (2024). Comparison of Chelated and Non-Chelated Calcium in Silver Spur Apples under Temperate Conditions. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 16(4): 220-225.