Feasibility of organic farming in guava (Psidium guajava']java L.)

An investigation was conducted under semi-arid tropics of southern Andhra Pradesh, India, to study the response of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. L-49 (Sardar) to different organic manures. The treatments consist of organics, viz. vermi-compost (10 kg tree-1), FYM (25 Kg tree(-1)), NPK (250:350:200g tree(-1))and control (without any treatment).] The treatment with vermi-compost resulted in maximum number of shoots plant(-1), more number of leaves shoot(-1) and highest yield. Application of animal manures produced more number of fruits shoot(-1). Per cent fruit drop was nil with sheep, goat and leaf litter application, but was higher with vermi-compost and poultry manures. Heaviest fruits were borne under sheep and goat manures. The fruit yield was better with chemical fertilizers and good with poultry manures. TSS was highest with animal manures and least in control. Acidity was highest under FYM treatment closely followed by vermin-compost. Ascorbic acid content was highest in pig manure treatment whereas total sugars and reducing sugars were maximal with goat manure. Irrespective (of the treatment, leaf N remained almost the same before and after the trial. On the other hand, the leaf P and K showed an increase after the termination of the trial due to various treatments except control. Soil pH decreased in all treatments, whereas EC increased in all the treatments. Similarly organic carbon increased in all manurial treatments. This trend was almost similar with soil NPK. Thus, the present investigation revealed that the vermi-compost was superior over other organic sources and closely followed by poultry manure and leaf litter in improving vegetative growth, flowering, fruiting, yield and fruit attributes and fruit quality along with improvement in soil fertility and leaf nutrient status of the guava plant.