Integrated Nutrient Management in Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.)

Ber (Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.) belongs to family Rhamnaceae and genus Zizyphus which has about 40 species spread in tropical and sub-tropical regions of northern hemisphere. It is valued for its nutritional importance and regular bearing habit. Its fruit can be eaten fresh, semi-dried, baked and in the form of other edible and delicious products such as candy and jam. The integration of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures with thiourea has been found to be quite promising not only in maintaining higher productivity but also in providing greater stability in ber production. The combination of 0.825 kg urea, 1.150 kg single super phosphate, 0.410 kg muriate of potash, 22 kg vermicompost along with foliar spray of 0.5% thiourea significantly reduced per cent fruit drop and increased and fruit yield. The fruit yield was significantly and positively correlated with growth characters, relative leaf water content and microbial population and negatively correlated with per cent fruit drop and transpiration rate.