Effect of foliar application of micronutrients and soil application of zinc sulphate on total chlorophyll and carotenoid content in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis) cv. blood red

The present investigation was carried out for two consecutive years of 2016 and 2017 at experimental orchard of Department of Horticulture, CCS HAU, Hisar to assess the performance of sweet orange cv. Blood Red to foliar application of micronutrients and soil application of zinc sulphate. In experiment I, the foliar application of micronutrients was done two times i.e. Ist spray was done on first week of april and 2nd spray on first week of july. The experiment comprises of thirteen treatments, viz., Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 0.25%, 0.50% &1.00%; Iron sulphate (FeSO4) @ 1.5%, 2.0% & 2.5%; Manganese sulphate (MnSO4) @ 0.25%, 0.50% & 1.00%; Boric acid (H3BO3) @ 0.1%, 0.2% & 0.3% and Control (No micronutrients). In experiment II, the soil application of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) was done two times i.e. half dose in second fortnight of february and half dose in second fortnight of May. The experiment comprises of six treatments, viz., Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) @ 50 g/plant, 100 g/plant, 150 g/plant, 200 g/plant, 250 g/plant and Control (No Zn application). Results indicated that foliar application of micronutrients and soil application of zinc sulphate affected significantly the chlorophyll and carotenoid content.