Abstract

Trees of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Sardar were planted in September, 2010 at 2.0 x 2.0, 2.0 × 1.5, 1.5 × 1.5, 2.0 x 1.0 and 1.0 × 1.5 m spacing in 6.0 x 6.0 m size blocks to determine the effect of planting distance on tree growth, light interception, chlorophyll content, leaves Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash (Potassium) (NPK), flowering, yield and quality parameters. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with four replications at Instructional Farm, Department of Horticulture, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Vegetative growth characters of guava plant thou not influenced at the early stage by plant density however, at later stage, it was significantly influenced by various spacing treatments. Difference in two measurements was taken as “gain” and pruning was done during 11 September (first); 12 February; 12 September and 13 February (fourth). Mean maximum gain of shoot (46.7, 67.1 and 76.5 cm, respectively) and (53.7, 77.2 and 90.4 cm, respectively) at 60, 120 and 180 days second to third pruning (September, 2011 to February, 2012) and third to fourth (February, 2012 to September, 2012) respectively were recorded under treatment T₁ (2.0 × 2.0 m) and minimum recorded under treatment T₅ (1 × 1.5 m). Similarly, after two years of planting maximum plant; E-W (1.19 m) and N-S (1.32 m), girth of stem (3.75 cm), leaf area (97.16 cm²), light interception below canopy (356 μ Mol / m² S), flowers plant^-1 (88.40), number of fruits plant^-1 (17.20), fruit weight (77.50 g), yield plant^-1 (1.32 kg) and TSS/acid ratio (33.14) recorded under 2.0 × 2.0 m spacing and minimum under 1.0 x 1.5 m spacing, maximum plant height (1.58 m),  leaf area index (LAI) (3.29) and estimated yield (5.72 t ha^-1) were recorded under 1.0 × 1.5 m spacing and minimum plant height recorded under 2.0 × 2.0 m spacing. Further, trees spaced at 2.0 × 2.0 m produced better quality fruits as compared to other spacing treatment.

Key words: Guava, Ultra High Density Planting (UHDP), planting spacing,