Growth and yield impacts of organic manure and pruning on dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus Haw.)

Dragon is an intensively cultivated fruit crop and its yield is directly influenced by organic manures and lateral branching. So, an experiment was carried out to examine the effects of organic manures and lateral branches pruning on the growth and yield of dragon fruit at the BAU Germplasm Centre of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from March to November, 2022. The experiment consisted of five doses of organic manures, viz. 10.00 kg hill^-1 , cow dung, 20.00 kg hill^-1 cow dung, 30.00 kg hill^-1 cow dung, 40.00 kg hill^-1 cow dung and control (no cow dung). There were three types of lateral branches pruning, viz. primary lateral branch pruning, secondary lateral branch pruning and control (no lateral branch pruning). The two-factor experiment was laid out in the RCBD with three replications. The highest plant height (3.70 m), number of branches hill^-1 (18.00), number of flowers hill^-1 (20.26), number of fruits hill^-1  (17.91) and yield (4.84 t ha^-1) were obtained from cow dung at 30.00 kg hill^-1. In case of primary lateral branch pruning condition, the highest plant height (3.14 m), number of branches hill^-1 (14.52), number of flowers hill^-1 (15.52), number of fruits hill^-1 (14.13) and yield (3.04 t ha^-1) were observed. When combined effect was considered the highest plant height (3.87 m), number of branches hill^-1 (23.00), number of flowers hill^-1 (22.20), number of fruits hill^-1 (20.13) and yield (5.26 t ha^-1) were obtained from 30.00 kg cow dung with primary lateral branch pruning. When combined effects were considered, the highest yield (5.26 t ha^-1) was obtained from 30.00 kg cow dung with primary lateral branches pruning. The lowest values of all the parameters were recorded in the control treatment. The findings of this experiment demonstrated a significant impact of organic manure and lateral branch trimming on the development and production of dragon fruit. Application of 30,00kg cow dung hill^-1 with primary lateral branches pruning appears to be a promising combination for producing maximum yield (5.26 t ha^-1) of dragon fruit in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Organic manure; Pruning; Yield; Dragon fruit.