Yield and fruit quality of peach (Prunus persica L.) var. “Tropic Beauty” as affected by intra-row spacing and nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur blend fertilizer rate

Peaches have been cultivated for a long time in Ethiopia using conventional agronomic and production technologies. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the intra-row spacing and nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur blend fertilizer rate effect on peaches’ yield and fruit quality performance during the 2017–2022 growing seasons. The study was arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications, with three levels of intra-row spacing (4 m, 5 m, and 6 m) and four levels of nitrogen-phosphorous-sulfur blend fertilizer rates (0 kg ha−1, 100 kg ha−1, 150 kg ha−1and 200 kg ha−1) with a constant inter-row spacing of 4 m. Marketable and total yield, yield efficiency, average fruit weight, crop load, and fruit physicochemical quality parameters have been assessed. Most of the parameters evaluated have been affected by the interaction of intra-row spacing and nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur blend fertilizer rate. The overall result showed that intra-row spacing of 5 m and 150 kg ha−1 nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur blend fertilizer produced the highest yield with 20.38 tons ha−1. It showed optimum results in fruit physicochemical quality properties, and delivered a maximum net return of (3,618,280 Ethiopian Birr), according to the results of the economic analysis as well. In conclusion, planting peaches using 5 m intra-row (between plants) spacing with 150 kg ha−1 of nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur blend fertilizer application could be recommended under similar growing conditions.