Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and flowering of dragon fruit [Selenicereus costaricensis (web.) Britton and Rose]

Introduction

Dragon fruit [Selenicereus costaricensis (web.) Britton and Rose] belonging to the family Cactaceae is a perennial climbing cactus widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. It is commonly known as pitaya, strawberry pear, night blooming cereus and queen of the night (Martin et al., 1987) [9] . The crop originated in the tropical forest regions of Mexico and Central and South America and later spread to many countries including Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and Israel (Mizrahi and Nerd, 1996; Mizrahi et al., 1997) [10,11] . In India, dragon fruit cultivation has expanded rapidly in states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh due to its high economic value, nutritional importance and adaptability to dry climatic conditions. Dragon fruit plants are fast-growing climbing cacti with succulent triangular stems and aerial roots that help the plant attach to support structures. The fruit is a non-climacteric epigenous berry with attractive red or yellow skin and white or red pulp containing numerous edible black seeds. The fruit is rich in vitamin C, minerals, antioxidants and dietary fibre, making it a popular health-promoting fruit (Morton, 1987; Zainoldin and Baba, 2012) [12, ] . Due to its increasing market demand and export potential, dragon fruit cultivation is gaining importance in many tropical countries. Proper nutrient management plays a vital role in improving the growth and flowering of dragon fruit plants. Adequate and balanced supply of nutrients ensures better vegetative growth, flowering and fruit development, thereby increasing productivity. However, continuous use of chemical fertilizers alone may lead to deterioration of soil health and reduced nutrient use efficiency. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is an approach that combines the use of chemical fertilizers, organic manures and consortium biofertilizers to maintain soil fertility and improve crop productivity in a sustainable manner (Sharvesh et al., 2026) [22] . The combined application of inorganic fertilizers with organic sources such as vermicompost improves soil physical, chemical and biological properties while ensuring the availability of essential nutrients to plants. Organic manures also enhance microbial activity and nutrient mineralization, thereby supporting better plant growth and yield (Sharvesh et al., 2026) [22] . Consortium biofertilizers play an important role in INM by improving nutrient availability and uptake. A consortium biofertilizer contains beneficial microorganisms such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria, phosphatesolubilizing bacteria (PSB) and potassium-solubilizing bacteria (KSB), which enhance nutrient mobilization and availability in the rhizosphere. These microorganisms help in biological nitrogen fixation and solubilization of insoluble forms of phosphorus and potassium, thereby improving nutrient uptake and plant growth. Similarly, micronutrients such as zinc and boron are essential for several physiological processes including enzyme activation, pollen viability, fruit set and overall plant metabolism. Deficiency of these micronutrients may adversely affect growth, flowering and fruit quality. Although the individual effects of chemical fertilizers, organic manures and consortium biofertilizers are well documented, limited information is available on their combined use in dragon fruit cultivation. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of different combinations of Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF), vermicompost, consortium biofertilizer and micronutrients (ZnSO₄ and boric acid) on the growth and flowering of dragon fruit, with the aim of identifying an efficient and sustainable nutrient management practice.

Materials and Methods

The present investigation entitled "Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on growth and flowering of dragon fruit (Selenicereus costaricensis)" was carried at a farmer's field located at Maddur, Tiruttani, Thiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu. The experimental site is geographically situated at 13.24° N latitude and 79.56° E longitude at an altitude of 92 m above mean sea level and falls under a tropical agroclimatic region. The experiment was conducted on fouryear-old dragon fruit plants (variety Ciyam Red C) to study the Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on growth and flowering of Dragon Fruit (Selenicereus costaricensis). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight treatments and three replications, with five poles per treatment. The treatments consisted of different combinations of Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF), vermicompost, consortium biofertilizer and micronutrients (ZnSO₄ + Boric acid). The treatments were: T 1: Control, T 2: 100% RDF, T 3: 75% RDF + 25% Vermicompost, T 4: 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost, T 5: 75% RDF + 25% Vermicompost + Consortium Biofertilizer, T 6: 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost + Consortium Biofertilizer, T 7: 75% RDF + 25% Vermicompost + Consortium Biofertilizer + Micronutrients and T 8: 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost + Consortium Biofertilizer + Micronutrients. The application of Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF) at 450:350:300 g N:P:K pole -1 , along with vermicompost, consortium biofertilizer at 100 ml pole -1 and micronutrient spray of ZnSO₄ at 0.5% and boric acid at 0.2%. The required inputs were applied as per the treatment combinations and all experimental units were maintained under uniform cultural practices. Observations on growth and flowering parameters were recorded and the data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA for RBD as suggested by Panse and Sukhatme (1997) [14] using OPSTAT software (version 6.0.81.69) at 5% level of significance.

Results and Discussion

The effect of integrated nutrient management on growth parameters of dragon fruit was found to be significant (Table 1). Among the treatments, the application of 75% RDF + 25% vermicompost + consortium biofertilizer + micronutrients (ZnSO₄ + boric acid) recorded the highest plant height (32.40 cm), number of cladodes plant -1 (16.67), cladode length (102.45 cm) and cladode diameter (13.95 cm). [22] . The microbial consortium consisting of nitrogen fixing bacteria and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria also enhances nutrient availability in the rhizosphere. Similar findings were reported in dragon fruit by Kumar et al.

(2019) [6] , who observed increased plant height with integrated nutrient management. Rawat et al. (2022) [17] also reported improved vegetative growth in red dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis) under combined application of fertilizers and organic manures. Similar enhancement in plant height due to integrated nutrient application was reported in guava (Psidium guajava) by Dutta et al. (2009) [3] and in mango (Mangifera indica) by Yadav et al. (2011) [25] and Jawahar Srinith et al. (2025) [5] in guava.

The number of cladodes pole -1 determines the photosynthetic surface area and directly influences the productivity of dragon fruit plants. Increased cladode production observed in the present study may be attributed to improved nutrient supply and enhanced metabolic activity resulting from integrated nutrient application. Nitrogen promotes vegetative growth and branching, while phosphorus enhances root growth and nutrient uptake. Vermicompost also improves soil microbial population and enzymatic activity, leading to increased vegetative growth and cladode formation (Sharvesh et al., 2026) [21] . Similar results were reported in dragon fruit by Prajapati et al.

(2021) [16] , who observed a significant increase in vegetative segments with balanced nutrient supply. Rawat et al. (2022) [17] also reported increased cladode production in red dragon fruit with integrated nutrient management. Comparable findings were also reported in banana (Musa spp.) by Sabarad et al. (2004) [18] , where the application of vermicompost and biofertilizers significantly enhanced vegetative growth. Cladode length reflects the vigor and growth potential of dragon fruit plants. In the present study, increased cladode length may be attributed to improved nutrient availability and enhanced physiological activity resulting from integrated nutrient application. Nitrogen promotes cell division and elongation, while phosphorus and potassium improve metabolic activity and carbohydrate translocation (Muruganandam et al., 2025) [13] . Vermicompost also improves soil aeration and moisture retention, which supports root growth and nutrient absorption. Similar results were reported in dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis) by Samant et al. (2023) [19] , who observed increased cladode length under adequate fertilizer application. Rawat et al.

(2022) [17] also reported enhanced cladode growth in red dragon fruit with combined organic and inorganic nutrient sources.

Cladode diameter is associated with structural strength and physiological activity of the plant. Increased cladode thickness observed in the present study may be attributed to better nutrient uptake and improved accumulation of photosynthates in vegetative tissues (Sharvesh et al., 2025) [23] . Potassium plays a crucial role in carbohydrate translocation and enzyme activation, which promotes the development of thicker cladodes. Vermicompost and microbial inoculants enhance soil microbial activity and nutrient availability, resulting in improved vegetative growth. Similar observations were reported in dragon fruit by Chauhan et al. (2024) [1] , who observed increased cladode thickness with organic manure and biofertilizer application. Similar improvements in shoot diameter were also reported in guava (Psidium guajava) by Godage et al.

(2013) [4] and and Sharvesh et al. (2026) [22] in avocado.

The flowering parameters of dragon fruit were significantly influenced by the different nutrient management treatments (Table 2). Among the treatments, the application of 75% [7,21] . Nitrogen improves vegetative growth while phosphorus plays a key role in flower bud differentiation. Similar results were reported in dragon fruit by Perween and Hasan (2018) [15] , who observed earlier flowering with balanced fertilizer application. Siddiqua et al. (2024) [24] also reported reduced days to flowering in dragon fruit with integrated nutrient management practices. Flower and bud production is closely associated with plant nutrition and vegetative growth. In the present investigation, increased number of flowers pole -1 may be attributed to improved nutrient uptake and enhanced carbohydrate accumulation resulting from integrated nutrient management (Madhavan et al., 2025b) [8] . Biofertilizers improve nutrient availability and stimulate plant growth regulators which enhance floral initiation and development. Similar findings were reported in dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) by Chauhan et al. (2024) [1] , who observed increased flowering with organic manure and biofertilizer application.

Comparable results were reported in mango (Mangifera indica) by Yadav et al. (2011) [25] and in guava (Psidium guajava) by Dheware and Waghmare (2009) [2] and Sathappan et al. (2024) [20] in papaya

Conclusion

The integrated nutrient management treatment that produced the best growth and flowering response consisted of the application of Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF) at 450:350:300 g N:P:K pole -1 , along with vermicompost, consortium biofertilizer at 100 ml pole -1 and micronutrient spray of ZnSO₄ at 0.5% and boric acid at 0.2%. The combined application of inorganic fertilizers, organic manure, beneficial microbial consortium and micronutrients improved nutrient availability, enhanced soil microbial activity and promoted efficient nutrient uptake by the plants. This integrated approach resulted in improved vegetative growth, increased cladode development and enhanced flowering performance of dragon fruit indicating the effectiveness of balanced nutrient management for sustainable crop production.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementThe authors acknowledge the Department of Horticulture, Annamalai University, for providing facilities to conduct this research.

References

1. Chauhan P, Kumar A, Tripathi SK, Katiyar H, Kumar A, Verma AK, et al. Effect of organic manures and biofertilizers on growth, yield and quality of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus L.). Journal of Scientific Research and Reports. 2024;30(11):1106-1117.
2. Dheware RM, Waghmare MS. Influence of organic, inorganic and biofertilizers and their interaction on flowering and fruit set of sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). Asian Journal of Horticulture. 2009;4(1):194197.
3. Dutta P, Maji SB, Das BC. Studies on the response of biofertilizers on growth and productivity of guava (Psidium guajava L.). Indian Journal of Horticulture. 2009;66(1):39-42.
4. Godage SS, Parekh NS, Nehete DS, Jagtap VM. Influence of chemical and biofertilizers on growth, flowering, fruit yield and quality of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Allahabad Safeda. Bioinfolet. 2013;10(2A):480-485.
5. Jawahar Srinith K, Sathappan CT, Sharvesh S. Effect of foliar application of micronutrients and plant growth regulators on quality of guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Lalit. Journal of Krishi Vigyan. 2025. doi:10.5958/2349-4433.2025.00050.2.
6. Kumar S, Saravanan S, Singh S, Bhardwaj AK, Kumar N. Effect of organic, inorganic and biofertilizers on physico-chemical attributes of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus L.) under Lucknow conditions. Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Biosciences. 2019;7(6):67-70.
7. Madhavan S, Sharvesh S, Pragathi T. Organic nutrient strategies for improving growth dynamics and flowering in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.). Journal of Advances in Biology and Biotechnology. 2025;28(9):3022. doi:10.9734/jabb/2025/v28i93022.
8. Madhavan S, Pragathi T, Sharvesh S. Enhancing coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) performance through sustainable organic practices. International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research. 2025;9(9):5657. doi:10.33545/26174693.2025.v9.i9so.5657.
9. Martin FW, Campbell CW, Ruberte RM. Perennial edible fruits of the tropics: an inventory. Washington, DC: Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture; 1987.
10. Mizrahi Y, Nerd A. New crops as a possible solution for the troubled Israeli export market. In: Janick J, editor. Progress in new crops. Alexandria: ASHS Press; 1996. p. 37-45.
11. Mizrahi Y, Nerd A, Nobel PS. Cacti as crops. Horticultural Reviews. 1997;18:291-320.
12. Morton JF. Strawberry pear. In: Fruits of warm climates. Miami: Creative Resource Systems; 1987. p. 347-348.
13. Muruganandam C, Sharvesh S, Dharanidharan S, Madhan. Efficacy of integrated nutrient management on rhizome productivity in mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.). Journal of Krishi Vigyan. 2025. doi:10.5958/2349-4433.2025.00057.7.
14. Panse VG, Sukhatme PV. Statistical methods for agricultural workers. 4th ed. New Delhi: Indian Council of Agricultural Research; 1997.
15. Perween T, Hasan MA. Effect of different doses of NPK on flowering phenology of dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus L.). International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences. 2018;7(5):2189-2194.
16. Prajapati P, Topno SE, Bahadur V. Effect of different levels of controlled release fertilizer on plant growth and establishment of dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus). Pharma Innovation Journal. 2021;10(12):184-187.
17. Rawat AK, Maji S, Maurya AK, Meena RC. Effect of fertilizers, vermicompost and farmyard manure on growth of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis). Agricultural and Biological Research. 2022;38(4):332335.
18. Sabarad AI, Swamy GSK, Patil CP, Patil PB, Athani SI. Influence of VAM, vermicompost and Trichoderma harzianum on growth of banana (Musa AAB) cv. Rajapuri. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2004;17(3):515-518.
19. Samant VA, Rani CI, Shanmugasundaram KA, Janaki P, Djanaguiraman M, Neelavathi R, et al. Effect of inorganic fertilizer and spacing on plant growth of dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis) under Tamil Nadu agro-climatic conditions. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change. 2023;13(10):14111418.
20. Sathappan CT, Kandasamy R, Sharvesh S. Effect of pre-harvest treatments to enhance the post-harvest quality and shelf life of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady. Ecology Environment and Conservation. 2024;30(07S):050. doi:10.53550/eec.2024.v30i07s.050.
21. Sathappan CT, Kandasamy R, Sharvesh S. Pre-harvest treatments enhance the post-harvest quality of papaya (Carica papaya L.) cv. Red Lady. Indian Journal of Horticulture. 2025;82(2):8. doi:10.58993/ijh/2025.82.2.8.
22. Sharvesh S, Sathappan CT, Rameshkumar S, Manimaran S. Integrated organic-mineral nutrition improves growth and stress resilience in high density avocado cv. TKD-1. International Journal of Advanced Biochemistry Research. 2026;10(1S):765-769. doi:10.33545/26174693.2026.v10.i1Sj.7070.
23. Sharvesh S, Sathappan CT, Jawahar Srinith K, Jeevanantham V. Synergistic effects of gibberellic acid and brassinosteroids on fruit development, yield and quality in kokum (Garcinia indica). Journal of Krishi Vigyan. 2025. doi:10.5958/2349-4433.2025.00086.5.
24. Siddiqua A, Srinivasappa KN, Khayum A, Murthy VP, Kumar PMTL. Studies on the influence of biofertilizers and organic manures on flowering behaviour and yield attributes of dragon fruit. International Journal of Plant and Soil Science. 2024;36(3):43-57.
25. Yadav AK, Singh JK, Singh HK. Studies on integrated nutrient management in flowering, fruiting, yield and quality of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Amrapali under high density orcharding. Indian Journal of Horticulture. 2011;68(4):453-460.