IMPACT OF WEATHER AND ORCHARD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON APPLE PRODUCTIVITY AND SOIL HEALTH IN KULLU DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2017-12
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Impact of weather and orchard management practices
on apple productivity and soil health in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted
during the years 2015 and 2016 at four altitudinal gradients/locations, viz. Bajaura (1090m amsl),
Seobagh (1189m amsl), Naggar (1880m amsl) and Arsu (2080 m amsl), on three commercial apple
varieties viz. Red Delicious, Royal Delicious and Golden Delicious. The different phenological stages
(Silver tip, Green tip, Pink bud, Full bloom and Petal fall) in apple were observed at earliest at
Bajaura, where the apple crop experienced higher average temperature compared to other locations.
Minimum number of days for silver tip stage (54.22 days with 349.22 GDD), green tip stage (71.67
days with 484.00 GDD), pink bud stage (86.94 days with 662.54 GDD), full bloom stage (93.89 days
with 749.67 GDD) and for petal fall stage (99.00 days with 807.48 GDD) were observed at Bajaura,
followed by Seobagh, Naggar and Arsu. Among different cultivars, Red Delicious cultivar took
minimum number of days for silver tip stage (56.58 days and 264.93 GDD), green tip stage (74.92
days with 387.44 GDD), pink bud stage (89.00 days with 526.85 GDD), full bloom stage (95.71 days
with 598.33 GDD) and for petal fall stage (101.58 days with 662.14 GDD), followed by Royal
Delicious and Golden Delicious. The studies on long term impact of weather parameters on apple
productivity revealed that the minimum temperature during dormancy stage (Jan- March) exhibited
positive and significant correlation with productivity of apple. Whereas, maximum temperature during
April- June (flowering, fruit set and fruit development stage) showed negative and significant impact
on apple productivity. The studies on effect of management practices and orchard aspect on soil
health at different locations revealed maximum soil pH (6.77) and OC (2.92 %) in low input orchards
when compared with high input orchards. Among different locations highest soil pH and EC were
found in Arsu, followed by Naggar, Seobagh and Bajaura. High input orchards showed higher values
of soil macronutrients, N (330.4 kg/ha), P (36.64 kg/ha) and K (287.4 kg/ha) than low input orchards.
Soil micronutrients Fe, Zn and Cu were also found higher in high input orchards. In low input
orchards, soil microbial count and biomass were recorded higher than high input orchards. The
orchards in south west aspect recorded higher N (309.7 kg/ha) and Mn (27.60 mg/kg) as compared to
orchards in north east aspect. Whereas, other soil parameters were found higher in north east than
south west aspect.
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