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Crop Research

Effects of soil and foliar fertilisation on the yield and fruit quality of soursop (Annona muricata L.) 


DOI: 10.31830/2454-1761.2026.CR-1152    | Article Id: CR-1152
DORIS MARMOLEJO-GUTARRA, RUBEN MUNIVE-CERRON, GILBERTO GAMARRA-SANCHEZ, KARINA MARMOLEJO-GUTARRA AND JOSE SANCHEZ-ESCALANTE dmarmolejo@uncp.edu.pe
Address : Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú, Av. Mariscal Castilla N° 3909, Huancayo 12006, Peru
Submitted Date : 25-09-2026
Accepted Date : 28-10-2026
Online Published:

Abstract

Soursop productivity and fruit quality may be limited by nutrient imbalances that affect flowering, fruit set, yield and fruit development, particularly under humid tropical conditions. However, information on the combined effects of soil and foliar fertilisation on the reproductive performance, yield and fruit quality of seed-propagated soursop remains limited, highlighting the need to identify effective nutrient management strategies. This study evaluated the effects of combined soil and foliar fertilisation on reproductive performance, yield and fruit quality of soursop under field conditions at the San Ramón Agricultural Experimental Station, Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú, central Peru. Six-year-old seed-propagated soursop plants were arranged in a completely randomised design and subjected to four soil plus foliar fertilisation treatments: T1 (Ca + B), T2 (Algaforte), T3 (Pantera Potasio) and T4 (Terra Phos). Treatments were applied at three phenological stages and supplemented with 5 kg of sheep manure per plant. Floral abortion, number of developing fruits, number of fruits, mean fruit weight, fruit length and diameter, 100-seed weight, yield per plant and total soluble solids (°Brix) were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test at P = 0.05. Fertilisation treatments significantly affected reproductive performance, yield and fruit quality. T4 showed the lowest floral abortion (21%) and the highest yield (41.87 kg/plant), fruit length (29.09 cm) and fruit diameter (21.77 cm). T3 produced the highest 100-seed weight (75.17 g) and total soluble solids (15.67 °Brix). In contrast, T1 generally showed the lowest productive responses. Overall, T3 and T4 provided the most favourable responses, indicating that balanced soil and foliar nutrient supply can improve soursop productivity and fruit quality under tropical conditions.

Keywords

Fertilisation fruit quality nutrient management soursop yield 

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