Browsing by Author "Rishu Raj"
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ThesisItem Open Access NUTRITIONAL SURVEY OF HIGH DENSITY APPLE ORCHARDS IN SIRMAUR DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH(UHF,NAUNI, 2023-11-28) Rishu Raj; Pardeep KumarThe present study entitled “Nutritional survey of high density apple orchards in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh” was undertaken during 2022-2023 in Rajgarh block of Sirmaur district. Soil and leaf samples from 16 representative high density apple orchards were collected. Majority of the soils were found sandy loam to sandy clay loam in texture. Bulk density values indicated no problem of soil compaction. Soil pH was near neutral in reaction. EC values were in safe limits (< 0.8 dS m-1). The organic carbon contents were medium to high. Soils were high in available P, K, Ca, Mg, SO4 2-, Cu, Fe and Mn however, available N was recorded medium in both surface and sub-surface layers. Whereas, 56.25 per cent of the samples were high in surface soil and 87.50 per cent of the samples were medium in sub-surface soils in DTPA-Zn availability. Leaves were high in N and K, whereas, medium in P, Cu and Zn content. However, Calcium, Sulphur and Manganese were recorded in low to medium range. Magnesium and Iron content were found in medium to high range in plants. Majority of soil samples were high in viable microbial count and microbial biomass. Surface soil pH was positively correlated with available Ca and had a negative correlation with available Fe. Soil EC was significant and positively correlated with soil Ca, S and Zn content. Whereas, organic carbon content of soils was significantly and positively correlated with soil available N, P, S, Zn and Fe contents. Organic carbon content of soils showed significant and positive correlation with leaf N and S contents, respectively. A significant positive relationship was found between soil and leaf nutrient contents. This calls for judicious application of fertilizers and organic manures for sustainable apple production in the area studied. High coefficients of variations (>5%) for both soil and plant nutrient analysis indicate towards more detailed nutritional survey of high density apple growing areas of district Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh.