EFFECT OF INORGANIC, ORGANIC AND NATURAL SYSTEMS OF NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN FRUITS AND THEIR IMPACT ON SOIL PROPERTIES
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Date
2023-09-27
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The studies, “Effect of inorganic, organic and natural systems of nutrient management in fruits and their impact on soil properties” were conducted during 2021 and 2022. Four orchards each under inorganic, organic and natural systems of nutrient management in mango, apricot and apple growing in Bilaspur, Solan and Shimla districts respectively, were selected. The inorganic system recorded the highest available N, P, K, exchangeable Ca, Mg , S, DTPA extractable Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu (349.6, 64.0, 376.5 10.07 cmol (p+) kg-1, 4.19 cmol (p+) kg-1, 43.18 kg ha-1, 3.17, 25.8, 13.2 and 2.59 mg kg-1, respectively. Sub- surface soils followed the similar trend. In all parameters apple, due to better management registered higher values for all nutrients. The highest OC (18.40 g kg-1 and 13.23 g kg-1 in 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths, respectively). and soil microbial biomass carbon (269.4 μg g-1 soil), and other microbial properties were recorded under natural farming system. Among the plant parameters the maximum levels of nutrients in the leaves (2.55 % N, 0.25 % P, 1.66 % K, 2.17 % Ca, 0.69 % Mg, 232.7 ppm Fe, 10.2 ppm Cu, 28.6 ppm Zn and 64.1 ppm Mn) were recorded under inorganic nutrient management. The plant growth parameters were noted best under inorganic nutrient management. The soil quality index was highest with inorganic nutrient management system with index value of (0.60, 0.59 and 0.57) for apple, mango and apricot, respectively. The pot culture studies show that the treatment (T1) i.e., RDF + FYM recorded the maximum change (increase) in the physico-chemical properties soil of orchards, while the percent increase in microbiological properties was recorded highest with the treatment T2 i.e. NPK equivalent through FYM. Thus inorganic nutrient management along with FYM results in the maximum soil and leaf nutrient levels which directly affects the growth, flowering, fruit yield and quality of apple, mango and apricot. However, the natural farming system has shown promise and the soil quality parameters in the organic and natural systems of nutrient management emphasize their adoption for niche areas in order to get premium pricing and long-term sustainability.