EFFECT OF NPK ON GROWTH AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF GRAFTED APPLE (Malus × domestica Borkh.) NURSERY PLANTS
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Date
2019-09
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present studies entitled “Effect of NPK on growth and nutritional status of grafted apple
(Malus × domestica Borkh.) nursery plants” was conducted during the year 2017-18 in the experimental
nursery block of the Department of Fruit Science, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry,
Nauni, Solan (HP). The experiment was laid out in randomized block design, comprising 14 treatments of
NPK doses viz., T1: NPK @ 12, 3 and 4.5 g, respectively/m2; T2: NPK @ 12, 3 and 9 g, respectively/m2;
T3: NPK @ 12, 6 and 4.5 g, respectively/m2; T4: NPK @ 12, 6 and 9 g, respectively/m2; T5: NPK @ 15, 3
and 4.5 g, respectively/m2; T6: NPK @ 15, 3 and 9 g, respectively/m2; T7: NPK @ 15, 6 and 4.5 g,
respectively/m2; T8: NPK @ 15, 6 and 9 g, respectively/m2; T9: NPK @ 18, 3 and 4.5 g, respectively/m2;
T10: NPK @ 18, 3 and 9 g, respectively/m2; T11: NPK @ 18, 6 and 4.5 g, respectively/m2; T12: NPK @ 18,
6 and 9 g, respectively/m2; T13: Jeevamrut drenching (10%) at fortnight intervals and T14: Control (no
chemical fertilizer). Each treatment was replicated thrice and well rotten FYM was added @ 8 kg/m2
nursery bed area to all the treatments. In Royal Delicious and Oregon Spur varieties of apple, respective
maximum linear growth (187.42 & 156.62 cm), number of leaves per plant (56.00 & 53.00), leaf area
(24.77 & 24.35 cm2), number of main roots per plant (4.83 & 6.00), root diameter (10.00 & 9.83 mm),
length of main roots (1.34 & 1.41 m), total root length (18.35 & 14.90 m), fresh weight of roots (72.08 &
67.83 g), dry weight of roots (38.67 & 38.17 g), leaf P (0.30 & 0.28%) and leaf Ca (1.53 & 1.48%) were
recorded in the plants fertilized with NPK @ 18, 6 and 4.5 g, respectively/m2 nursery bed (T11). However,
in Royal Delicious and Oregon Spur varieties of apple, respective maximum increase in radial growth of
stock (5.18 & 4.35 mm), increase in radial growth of scion (6.66 & 5.23 mm), internodal length (3.84 &
3.38 cm), fresh weight of shoots (140.52 & 95.51 g), dry weight of shoots (71.42 & 51.00 g), leaf N (2.47
& 2.33%) and leaf K (1.88 & 1.87%) were found highest in the plants treated with NPK @ 18, 6 and 9 g,
respectively/m2 nursery bed (T12). The maximum available soil N (467.80 kg/ha), soil K (370.67 kg/ha)
were exhibited by nursery beds fertilized with NPK @ 18, 6 and 9 g, respectively/m2 nursery bed (T12),
whereas, maximum available soil P (78.87 kg/ha) and soil Mg (591.13 mg/kg) contents were recorded in
the nursery beds treated with NPK @ 18, 6 and 4.5 g, respectively/m2 nursery bed (T11). The treatments
T11 (N3P2K1) and T12 (N3P2K2) were statistically at par with respect to majority of plant growth parameters
and nutritional status. Thus, application of 18.0 g N, 6.0 g P and 4.5 g K/m2 nursery bed respectively (T11)
was found to be the most effective treatment for production of quality nursery plants of apple with well
developed shoot and root systems.
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