Effect of Biocapsule and Nanozeolite in Improving Growth, Development and Yield of Low Chilling Apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) cv. HRMN-99 in Prayagraj Agro-Climatic Condition

The present investigation was conducted at the research farm of Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology & Sciences, Prayagraj on 4 year old plant from Dec 2023- May 2024 to find the suitable treatment of Biocapsule and Nanozeolite with a combination of NPK in relation to plant growth, development and yield of apple. The statistical design adopted for the experiment was randomized block design (RBD) having 03 replications and 09 treatment combinatios. viz, T0 (Control), T1 Biocapsule 600ppm, T2 Nanozeolite300ppm, T3 Biocapsule 600ppm + Nanozeolite 300ppm, T4 Biocapsule 300ppm +Nanozeolite 300ppm, T5 NPK+ Biocapsule 600ppm, T6 NPK+ Nanozeolite 300ppm, T7 NPK+ Biocapsule 600ppm+ Nanozeolite 300ppm, T8 NPK+ Biocapsule 300ppm+ Nanozeolite 300ppm. The Treatments were applied by soil drenching at initiation of the experiment, the pre-flowering stage and the last one at the fruit setting stage to assess the effect on growth, development and yield of apple. The result of present investigation revealed that the treatment T7 NPK+ Biocapsule 600ppm+ Nanozeolite 300ppm (Soil drenching) was found significantly superior compared to other treatment combinations, which recorded highest mean value of plant height (3.41 m), primary branches (4.87), secondary branches (37.88), stem diameter (25.10 cm), leaf area (38.75 cm2), fruit set (36.12 %), number of fruits per plant (92.3) and average fruit weight (47.83 g). The highest yield per plant (9.84 kg) and yield per hectare (9.23 t/ha) were also obtained from treatment NPK+ Biocapsule 600ppm+ Nanozeolite 300ppm (Soil drenching) followed by T8 NPK+ Biocapsule 300ppm+ Nanozeolite 300ppm (Soil drenching) and lowest yield was obtained from T0 (control). Biocapsule and Nanozeolite with combination of NPK played an important role in fixing the nutrients is the soil and protecting the apple plant against the pathogen effect. That's why a positive response has to be seen in particular treatment during the research trail.