Study on the nutritional status of Apple spur growing soils of Kiri panchayt of Mehla Block in Chamba District
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Date
2024-03-19
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College of Horticulture and Forestry Dr YSP UHF, Neri, Hamirpur(H.P.)
Abstract
In the present investigation soil and leaf samples were collected from 42 apple spur orchards in kiri panchayat of Chamba District in Himachal Pradesh. These were analysed for different soil properties such as soil texture, bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon, available N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, DTPA-extractable Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn, soil respiration rate, microbial biomass carbon and microbial biomass nitrogen. The leaf samples were also analysed for nutrient contents such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn. The majority of soils in orchards were found to be sandy loam and the bulk density was < 1.6 g cm-3, hence the soils were less compact and do not interfere with root growth. The soils were slightly acidic to neutral 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 and P content were medium in the majority of soils of study area. The available K was high in most of the soils. Secondary nutrients were present in sufficient amount while DTPA-extractable Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn were medium to high in nutrient status. Soil biological properties such as SR, MBC and MBN were in high concentration. Correlation studies showed that the organic carbon content had significant and positive correlations with all the soil macro and micronutrients. The leaf contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn) had a highly significant and positive correlation with their respective concentration in soil. 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. The results emerged from the present investigation may be helpful for formulating tentative fertilizer recommendation.