Lemon is an important citrus fruit valued for its nutritional and economic significance. Micronutrient management plays a crucial role in improving productivity and fruit quality in citrus. A field experiment was conducted during 2022–23 at the College of Horticulture, Chiplima, OUAT, Sambalpur, Odisha, to evaluate the effect of foliar application of different micronutrients on yield performance and nutrient enrichment in lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm.). The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of different micronutrients on yield performance and nutrient enrichment in lemon leaves and fruit juice. The experiment comprised 10 treatments with three replications in a randomized block design using foliar sprays of ZnSO4 (0.3%), FeSO4 (0.15%), Borax (0.2%), and CuSO4 (0.15%) either singly or in combinations. The treatments are—T1 : foliar spray of 0.2% boron through borax, T2: foliar spray of 0.3% zinc through ZnSO4, T3 : foliar spray of 0.15% iron through FeSO4, and T4 : foliar spray of 0.15% copper through CuSO4. In the combined applications, T5 included 0.2% boron (borax) + 0.3% zinc (ZnSO4) + 0.15% iron (FeSO4), T6 included 0.2% boron (borax) + 0.15% iron (FeSO4) + 0.15% copper (CuSO4), and T7 comprised 0.2% boron (borax) + 0.3% zinc (ZnSO4) + 0.15% copper (CuSO4). T8 was a combination of 0.3% zinc (ZnSO4) + 0.15% iron (FeSO4) + 0.15% copper (CuSO4), while T9 represented the foliar spray of all four micronutrients, i.e., 0.2% boron (borax) + 0.3% zinc (ZnSO4) + 0.15% iron (FeSO4) + 0.15% copper (CuSO4). The treatment T1₀ served as the control with water spray. Observations were recorded on yield and yield attributes, along with nutrient contents in leaves and fruit juice. The combined foliar spray of Borax, ZnSO4, FeSO4, and CuSO4 (T9) produced the maximum number of fruits (179.3) and yield (9.63 kg/plant), while the control (T10) recorded the lowest yield (5.64 kg/plant). T7 registered the highest calcium content (83.749 mg/L) in leaves, whereas T9 had the highest magnesium content (5.530 mg/L). Among the single treatments, FeSO4 (T3) recorded the highest calcium, magnesium, iron (9.554 mg/L), and copper (0.118 mg/L) contents. The highest zinc (0.135 mg/L), manganese (0.247 mg/L), and boron (0.988 mg/L) levels were found in T2, T4, and T1, respectively. In fruit juice, T9 exhibited the maximum calcium (41.931 mg/L) and zinc (0.453 mg/L), while T1 recorded the highest magnesium (22.789 mg/L) and boron (8.568 mg/L) content. The study concluded that foliar application of micronutrients, particularly the combined treatment (T9), is highly effective in enhancing yield, nutrient accumulation in leaves, and nutritional quality of fruit juice in lemon. From a practical standpoint, the adoption of combined foliar sprays of Borax, ZnSO4, FeSO4, and CuSO4 can be recommended to farmers as a viable strategy to maximize lemon productivity, improve fruit quality, and enhance the nutritional value of produce for consumers.The experiment comprised 10 treatments with three replications in a randomized block design using foliar sprays of ZnSO4 (0.3%), FeSO4 (0.15%), Borax (0.2%), and CuSO4 (0.15%) either singly or in combinations. Observations were recorded on yield and yield attributes, along with nutrient contents in leaves and fruit juice. The combined foliar spray of Borax, ZnSO4, FeSO4, and CuSO4 (T9) produced the maximum number of fruits (179.3) and yield (9.63 kg/plant), while the control (T10) recorded the lowest yield (5.64 kg/plant). T7 registered the highest calcium content (83.749 mg/L) in leaves, whereas T9 had the highest magnesium content (5.530 mg/L). Among the single treatments, FeSO4 (T3) recorded the highest calcium, magnesium, iron (9.554 mg/L), and copper (0.118 mg/L) contents. The highest zinc (0.135 mg/L), manganese (0.247 mg/L), and boron (0.988 mg/L) levels were found in T2, T4, and T1, respectively. In fruit juice, T9 exhibited the maximum calcium (41.931 mg/L) and zinc (0.453 mg/L), while T1 recorded the highest magnesium (22.789 mg/L) and boron (8.568 mg/L) content. The study concluded that foliar application of micronutrients, particularly the combined treatment (T9), is highly effective in enhancing yield, nutrient accumulation in leaves, and nutritional quality of fruit juice in lemon\(Citrus limon* (L.) Burm.).

Effect of Micronutrients On Yield and Nutrient Content in the Leaves and Fruit Juice of Lemon (Citrus Limon (L.) Burm.)

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年9月15日

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R. K. Tarai,
S. K. Nayak

摘要

Lemon is an important citrus fruit valued for its nutritional and economic significance. Micronutrient management plays a crucial role in improving productivity and fruit quality in citrus. A field experiment was conducted during 2022–23 at the College of Horticulture, Chiplima, OUAT, Sambalpur, Odisha, to evaluate the effect of foliar application of different micronutrients on yield performance and nutrient enrichment in lemon (Citrus limon (L.) Burm.). The main objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of foliar application of different micronutrients on yield performance and nutrient enrichment in lemon leaves and fruit juice. The experiment comprised 10 treatments with three replications in a randomized block design using foliar sprays of ZnSO₄ (0.3%), FeSO₄ (0.15%), Borax (0.2%), and CuSO₄ (0.15%) either singly or in combinations. The treatments are—T₁ : foliar spray of 0.2% boron through borax, T₂: foliar spray of 0.3% zinc through ZnSO₄, T₃ : foliar spray of 0.15% iron through FeSO₄, and T₄ : foliar spray of 0.15% copper through CuSO₄. In the combined applications, T₅ included 0.2% boron (borax) + 0.3% zinc (ZnSO₄) + 0.15% iron (FeSO₄), T₆ included 0.2% boron (borax) + 0.15% iron (FeSO₄) + 0.15% copper (CuSO₄), and T₇ comprised 0.2% boron (borax) + 0.3% zinc (ZnSO₄) + 0.15% copper (CuSO₄). T₈ was a combination of 0.3% zinc (ZnSO₄) + 0.15% iron (FeSO₄) + 0.15% copper (CuSO₄), while T₉ represented the foliar spray of all four micronutrients, i.e., 0.2% boron (borax) + 0.3% zinc (ZnSO₄) + 0.15% iron (FeSO₄) + 0.15% copper (CuSO₄). The treatment T₁₀ served as the control with water spray. Observations were recorded on yield and yield attributes, along with nutrient contents in leaves and fruit juice. The combined foliar spray of Borax, ZnSO₄, FeSO₄, and CuSO₄ (T₉) produced the maximum number of fruits (179.3) and yield (9.63 kg/plant), while the control (T₁₀) recorded the lowest yield (5.64 kg/plant). T₇ registered the highest calcium content (83.749 mg/L) in leaves, whereas T₉ had the highest magnesium content (5.530 mg/L). Among the single treatments, FeSO₄ (T₃) recorded the highest calcium, magnesium, iron (9.554 mg/L), and copper (0.118 mg/L) contents. The highest zinc (0.135 mg/L), manganese (0.247 mg/L), and boron (0.988 mg/L) levels were found in T₂, T₄, and T₁, respectively. In fruit juice, T₉ exhibited the maximum calcium (41.931 mg/L) and zinc (0.453 mg/L), while T₁ recorded the highest magnesium (22.789 mg/L) and boron (8.568 mg/L) content. The study concluded that foliar application of micronutrients, particularly the combined treatment (T₉), is highly effective in enhancing yield, nutrient accumulation in leaves, and nutritional quality of fruit juice in lemon. From a practical standpoint, the adoption of combined foliar sprays of Borax, ZnSO₄, FeSO₄, and CuSO₄ can be recommended to farmers as a viable strategy to maximize lemon productivity, improve fruit quality, and enhance the nutritional value of produce for consumers.

The experiment comprised 10 treatments with three replications in a randomized block design using foliar sprays of ZnSO₄ (0.3%), FeSO₄ (0.15%), Borax (0.2%), and CuSO₄ (0.15%) either singly or in combinations. Observations were recorded on yield and yield attributes, along with nutrient contents in leaves and fruit juice. The combined foliar spray of Borax, ZnSO₄, FeSO₄, and CuSO₄ (T₉) produced the maximum number of fruits (179.3) and yield (9.63 kg/plant), while the control (T10) recorded the lowest yield (5.64 kg/plant). T7 registered the highest calcium content (83.749 mg/L) in leaves, whereas T9 had the highest magnesium content (5.530 mg/L). Among the single treatments, FeSO₄ (T3) recorded the highest calcium, magnesium, iron (9.554 mg/L), and copper (0.118 mg/L) contents. The highest zinc (0.135 mg/L), manganese (0.247 mg/L), and boron (0.988 mg/L) levels were found in T2, T4, and T1, respectively. In fruit juice, T9 exhibited the maximum calcium (41.931 mg/L) and zinc (0.453 mg/L), while T1 recorded the highest magnesium (22.789 mg/L) and boron (8.568 mg/L) content. The study concluded that foliar application of micronutrients, particularly the combined treatment (T9), is highly effective in enhancing yield, nutrient accumulation in leaves, and nutritional quality of fruit juice in lemon\(Citrus limon* (L.) Burm.).