Fertigation studies on physiological parameters and yield attributes in nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt)

A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of fertigation of N, P and K fertilisers along with micronutrients on the physiological parameters of Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans. Houtt) variety Vishwasree at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Nutmeg is a neglected spice and needs special attention to boost its yield. The present study proved that the fertigation of water-soluble fertilisers could enhance the yield. The fertigated plants especially with water-soluble fertilisers along with micronutrients were better in physiological states at vegetative, flowering and fruit development stages of crop growth than plants fertilised through conventional methods. Among the treatments, a 100% recommended dose of fertilisers as Water- Soluble Fertilisers (WSF) along with micronutrients through drip irrigation increased the physiological parameters viz., specific leaf weight, maximum up to 4.7 mg cm-2 at the fruit development stage, total chlorophyll content, maximum up to 2.6 mg g-1 in the vegetative stage and declined towards maturity stage, nitrate reductase (9.7 NO g-1 h-1) up to the flowering stage, IAA oxidase (41.4 ?g g-1 h-1) at the fruit development stage and maximum peroxidase activity at the fruit development stage (3.28 at 430 nm min-1 g-1) for both the seasons. The results revealed that the seed yield (1326.00 and 1357.20 kg ha-1), mace yield (552.24 kg ha-1 and 561.60 kg ha-1), pericarp yield (12158.91 kg ha-1 and 13136.58 kg ha-1) were higher under the fertigation treatment with 100% water-soluble fertiliser along with micronutrients. This field experiment clearly proved that fertigation plays a major role in increasing the quantitative and qualitative yield.