NUTRIENT INDEXING OF MANGO (Mangifera indica L.) ORCHARDS IN UNA DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2022-03-02
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College of Horticulture and Forestry Neri, Hamirpur (H.P.)
Abstract
In this study soil and leaf samples were collected from 73 major mango orchards in district Una. The collected soil samples were analyzed for different soil properties such as soil texture, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon and available N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn nutrient. The leaf samples were analyzed for nutrient contents such as leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn. On the basis of soil textural classes, the soils of mango orchards varied from sandy loam, sand and loamy sand and the bulk density was < 1.6 g cm-3, hence the soils were less compact and doesnot interfered with root growth. The soils were near neutral to slightly alkaline in soil reaction. The soils were in safe limits of electrical conductivity as the values were less than 0.8 dS m-1. Organic carbon content was found medium to high in status. The available N content was low in the soils of mango orchards in study area. The available K and Cu contents were medium and available P, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn and Zn were high in nutrient status. The leaf nutrient status indicated that 30.14, 89.04, 16.44, 78.08, 78.08 and 86.30 per cent samples were sufficient in N, K, Mg, S, Fe and Cu contents. Whereas, 16.44, 47.95, 12.33 and 12.33 per cent samples were deficient in P, Ca, Mn and Zn. The organic carbon content was significant and positively correlated with available N, P, K and Ca. Available Ca and Zn exhibited significant and positive relationship with their respective leaf nutrient contents. Based on the coefficient of variation, the soil properties such as the bulk density, pH, Mg and leaf N, Ca, Zn were least variable. Whereas, electrical conductivity (EC), N, Ca, S, Mn, Cu, Zn and leaf K, Mg, S, Fe and Cu were moderatelyvariable. However, organic carbon content (OC), P, K, Fe and leaf P, Mn contents were highly variable. For moderately and highly variable soil parameters, site specific nutrient management strategies should be developed and adopted for enhancing the productivity of the crop in the region.