Impact of Nitrogen Dosage and Various Sources on Growth of Dragon Fruit in Mid-Hill Conditions of Nagaland

Aims: To evaluate optimum dose of nitrogen through various sources for growth and development of dragon fruit grown under mid-hill condition of Nagaland.

Study Design: Randomized Complete Block Design.

Place and Duration of Study: The present experiment was carried out during the year of 2021 and 2022 has been conducted in the research experimental block of Department of Horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences, Medziphema Campus, Nagaland, India.

Methodology: Different levels of nitrogen with and without organic manures were applied to the one-year-old plants to evaluate the optimum dose for growth and development of dragon fruit plants. Ten treatments of different doses of nitrogen and combinations of organic manures (Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Pig manure), common doses of phosphorous and potassium were applied to plants. [N0 Control (T1); N100g/plant (T2); N125g/plant (T3); N150g /plant (T4); 75% of N100g+FYM1.0 kg/plant (T5); 75% of N125g+FYM1.25 kg/plant (T6); 75% of N150+FYM1.5kg /plant (T7); 75% of N100g+Pig manure1.66kg/plant (T8); 75% of N125g+Pig manure2.1kg/plant (T9); 75% of N150g+Pig manure2.5kg/plant (T10)]

Results: The data of two-year study revealed that the maximum cladode length (232.04 cm) and number of areoles/cladode (79.32) were recorded in the treatment with 75% of N150g+Pig manure2.5kg/plant (T10) whereas maximum cladode diameter (5.02 cm), cladode girth (15.78 cm), distance between areoles (3.30 cm) and area of areoles (0.18 mm2) were recorded in the treatment 75% of N125g+Pig manure2.1kg/plant (T9) and minimum values were recorded mostly in treatments supplied with only inorganic manures (T1 and T2).

Conclusion: The combined application of both organic and inorganic manures (Pig manure + NPK) (T9 and T10) found to be most superior treatment combination with regard to vegetative growth in Hylocereus polyrhizus.