Optimizing growth, yield and quality of chow chow (Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz) through foliar micronutrient treatments

Foliar application of micronutrients refers to application of micronutrients directly to plant leaves through spraying. It is a cost-effective method to supply micronutrients to the plants. Chayote (Sechium edule) is a Cucurbitaceous perennial vegetable widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. The plant thrives in warm, humid climates and is appreciated for its versatility and nutritional value Since this crop is cultivated in slightly acidic soil, nutrient fixation is common, leading to micronutrient deficiency symptoms. A field experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Research Station in Thadiyankudisai, following a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 14 treatments and three replications, using a plot size of 34.56 m². Micronutrients such as Boric acid, ZnSO4, FeSO4 and MnSO4 were applied at a 0.5 % concentration through foliar sprays, both individually and in combinations. The treatments were applied three times at 15-day intervals, starting 60 days after planting. Five plants per treatment were randomly selected to assess growth, yield and quality parameters. The recorded data were subjected to statistical analysis. The results showed that the highest vine length (363.14 cm) and shortest time to first female (109 days) and male (91 days) flower emergence were observed in the T11 treatment. Yield per plot (155.36 kg) and per hectare (44.95 t/ha) were also highest in T11. Additionally, T11 resulted in the highest nutrient content: protein (1.74 g/100 g), calcium (419.37 mg/100 g), antioxidants (1370.22 µg/g), vitamin C (13.81 mg/100 g), boron (0.421 mg/100 g), zinc (1.58 mg/100 g), iron (84.30 mg/100 g), manganese (5.23 mg/100 g), nitrogen (3.61 %), phosphorus (0.461 %) and potassium (1.38 %).