Response of peach nursery plants to different doses of nitrogen and plant densities

A field experiment was carried out at the Agriculture Research Institute Tarnab during the year. The response of peach nursery plants to different doses of nitrogen and plant densities was studied. Three levels of nitrogen, 0, 57 and 114 kg/hectare were used along with four different planting densities i.e. 536, 804, 1005 and 1072 seedlings per plot. It was found that seedling height (cm), diameter (mm), bud take success (%), scion length (cm) and root volume (cm­­­3) were significantly affected by different levels of nitrogen and planting densities, whereas time taken to reach buddable size was not affected in any treatment. Maximum seedling height, diameter, bud take success, scion length and root volume were 94.34 cm, 7.17 mm, 82.43%, 181.25cm and 667cm3 respectively for the maximum nitrogen dose of 114 kg ha-1. For different plant densities, the maximum seedling height, diameter, bud take success, scion length and root volume were 94.12 cm, 7.16 mm, 79.85%, 178.34 cm, and 672 cm3 respectively, for plots having 506 plants. Though, statistically the seedling height (98.51 cm), seedling diameter (8.17 mm), scion length (187.25 cm) and root volume (783 cm3) were highest for interaction, in plots with 114 kg nitrogen ha-1 and 536 seedlings. But the seedling height (95.24 cm), seedling diameter (7.12 mm), scion length (182.71 cm) and  root volume (746 cm3) in the plots receiving the similar nitrogen dose having plant density of 804 were found to be comparably more economical. Thus, from our findings we recommend a plant density of 85760 and a nitrogen dose of 114 kg per hectare. Keywords: Peach (Prunus persica L.); Nitrogen; Seedling height; Seedling diameter; Root volume http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2017.60056