Studies on integrated nutrient management on growth, yield, quality and effect of Post harvest treatments, Packaging materials on shelf life and quality of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red lady under southern Telangana

Abstract

The results of the two-year study show that the application of 75% RDF + 10 kg vermicompost + 100g Azotobacter + 100g PSB plant -1 influenced the plant growth characters, physiological attributes, yield as well as the quality of papaya cv. Red Lady. Based on the performance of growth, yield, quality and economical aspects observed in present. It can be concluded that combined application of organic, inorganic and biofertilizers in treatment 75% RDF + 10 kg vermicompost + 100g Azotobacter + 100g PSB plant -1 had given higher yields (31.72 kg plant -1 ) with better qualities fruits in Papaya over control. Highest benefit-cost ratio was also recorded in the same treatment 75% RDF + 10 kg vermicompost + 100g Azotobacter + 100 g PSB plant -1 (2.15). Under normal ambient conditions, the papaya fruits can be stored up to 8 days without much deterioration, beyond this period the fruits show very quick spoilage. But during the present study, application of chemicals such as CaCl 2 @ 3.0 % had shown a beneficial effect on the shelf life of papaya fruits and increased shelf life up to 15.32 days without much loss in both physical and physicochemical properties of fruits. Similarly, the combination of CaCl 2 @ 3.0 % and packaging newspaper had shown superiority and improved the storage life of papaya fruits up to 17.58 days with good physical and physicochemical properties as compared to control (9.00 days).