Storage behaviour of dates [Phoenix dactylifera L.] harvested at different maturity stages

Fruits of twelve cultivars viz., Jagool, Khadrwi, Medjool, Shamran. Halawy, Barhee, Khunezi, Khalas, Zahidi, Sayer, Hatemi and Nangal of datepalm [Phoenix dactylifera L.] were harvested at 'Gandora' [Kimri], 'Doka' [Khalal] and 'Dang' [Rutab] stages of maturity and studied for shelf life and physico-chemical changes during storage at ambient temperature under semi-arid agroclimatic conditions of Rajasthan during 1998-1999 and 1999-2000. 'Doka' [Khalal] stage of maturity was found most efficient in retaining its physiological loss in weight, with appropriate ascorbic acid, TSS and total sugar content during storage. The fruits of all the cultivars harvested at this stage of maturity accepted preferably for fresh consumption with highest, organoleptic score on day 6 of storage

Effect of nitrogen, zinc and manganese fertilization on soil composition and yield of guava [Psidium guajava] CV., Allahabad Safeda

An Investigation was carried out to study the effect of three levels of each of N [0, 300 and 600 g/plant/year], Zn [0, 2 and 4 g/plant/year] and Mn [0, 2 and 4 g/plant/year] on soil composition and yield of guava. The basic dose of nitrogen had significant influence on N, P, K, Zn and Mn contents of orchard soil. The N and Mn contents of orchard soil were significantly increased with the application of 600 g N/plant/year, while P, K and Zn contents of soil were significantly reduced with the application of the same treatment. The foliar spray of Zn and Mn had no significant influence on N, P, K, Zn and Mn contents of the orchard soil. The yield of guava fruits was significantly increased with the application of nitrogen, zinc and manganese