Studies on the effect of foliar application of calcium, potassium and silicon on quality and shelf life of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) cv. Sathgudi

The experiment “Studies on the effect of foliar application of calcium, potassium and silicon on quality and shelf life of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis. L) Cv. Sathgudi” was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Konda Mallepally in an existing sweet orange orchard on fifteen year old trees. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with thirteen treatments consisted of T1 - 1.0% KNO3 (potassium nitrate), T2 - 1.5% KNO3 (potassium nitrate), T3 - 2.0% KNO3 (potassium nitrate), T4 - 4 ml/L K2SiO3 (potassium silicate), T5 - 6 ml/L K2SiO3 (potassium silicate), T6 - 8 ml/L K2SiO3 (potassium silicate), T7 - 1.0% Ca(NO3)2 (calcium nitrate), T8 - 1.5% Ca(NO3)2 (calcium nitrate), T9 - 2.0% Ca(NO3)2 (calcium nitrate), T10 - 1.0% CaCl2 (calcium chloride), T11 - 1.5% CaCl2(calcium chloride), T12 - 2.0% CaCl2 (calcium chloride), T13 - control. Data on quality and shelf life differed significantly among the treatments. it was observed that quality of the fruits were found significantly highest with treatment T4 - potassium silicate 4 ml/L, with fruit juice content (46.37%), Total soluble solids (12.07 B°), total sugars (6.28%), reducing sugars (4.10%), non-reducing sugars (2.18%), low titrable acidity (0.53%). and shelf life was significantly highest in treatment T7 - 1% Ca(NO3)2 shelf life (27.70 days).