Effect of nitrogen fertigation on yield and fruit quality of low chilling peaches under subtropical conditions of Himachal Pradesh

Experiment was conducted to standardize the rate of nitrogen fertigation in peach under low hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh. Four N fertigation treatments were applied through drip to peach plants for two consecutive years during 2011 and 2012 and one recommended dose was added as soil application for control. The plants receiving higher (Full dose and 2/3rd dose) doses of N through fertigation were found to have significantly higher vegetative growth, fruit weight, fruit diameter and total yield as compared to lower rates (half and 1/3rd dose) of fertigation and soil application. Among the cultivars, Early Grande produced fruits with maximum weight (72.40g) and length (46.76 mm), although the total yield was highest (25.22 kg/plant) in Partap owing to the higher number of fruits. The fertilizer use efficiency was highest (118.83 kg/plant/kg) in treatment T4 (1/3 rd dose of N through drip).