EFFECT OF NITROGEN SOURCES ON GROWTH, PRODUCTION, FRUIT QUALITY AND NUTRIENT STATUS OF APPLE CV. ROYAL DELICIOUS
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Date
2017
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Effect of nitrogen sources on growth, production, fruit quality and
nutrient status of apple cv. Royal Delicious”, was conducted in private orchard at Denwari (Rohru) in Shimla
district of Himachal Pradesh during the year 2015-16. Twenty eight years old apple trees of cultivar Royal Delicious
grafted on seedling rootstock of uniform vigour. The trial was laid out in randomized block design (factorial) with
four replications. The purpose of these studies were to compare the effects of various sources of nitrogen on
apple growth, production, fruit quality, leaf and soil nutrient status, to find out alternate source of nitrogen for
the substitution for CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate), which was recommended for Himachal Pradesh. Two field
experiments were conducted simultaneously in same orchard wherein, soil application of five sources of N viz. urea,
calcium nitrate, 19:19:19 + urea, 12:32:16 + urea and calcium ammonium nitrate similarly, soil application of nitrogen
sources + foliar urea sprays at the three levels (840, 700 and 560 g N/tree) were tried and compared to get best
nitrogen source and level of application. The data were recorded for growth, fruit set, yield, quality, leaf and soil
nutrient status of apple for both the experiments and data of two years was also pooled and analysed to assess the
combined impact of the treatments. On the basis of experimental results CAN at 700 g level was observed best
treatment for growth, fruit set, yield and was closely followed by calcium nitrate at 700 g N/tree and urea at 700 g
N/tree. Leaf N content was recorded with the treatment of urea at 840 g N/tree, whereas highest P and K content were
recorded with 19:19:19 + urea at 560 g N/tree. Leaf Ca, Mg and micronutrient concentrations viz., Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn
were also quantified significantly by different soil N fertilization in similar trend. Soil pH decreased with treatment
12:32:16 + urea. However, Organic carbon, soil nutrients (N, Fe, Cu and Mn) increased with urea application. Soil P
and K contents increased with 12:32:16 + urea and CAN, respectively. Likewise the experimental results of soil
applied N sources and levels + foliar urea sprays has observed calcium ammonium nitrate + foliar urea sprays at
700 g N as best treatment combination and was closely followed by calcium nitrate + foliar urea sprays and urea
(soil) + urea (foliar) application at 700 g N level. Similarly, Leaf N content was recorded with the urea (soil) + urea
(foliar) at 840 g N/tree, whereas highest P and K contents were recorded with soil + foliar treatment (19:19:19 + urea)
+ urea at 560 g N/tree. Leaf Ca, Mg and micronutrient concentrations viz., Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn were also quantified
significantly by different soil + foliar N fertilization in similar trend. Soil pH decreased with soil + foliar application
of CAN + urea, whereas organic carbon, soil nutrients ( N, Fe, Cu and Mn) increased with urea (soil) + urea (foliar)
treatment. Soil P and K contents increased with soil + foliar treatment (12:32:16 + urea) + urea and CAN + urea,
respectively. Since, the CAN availability is problem due to ban on its production, calcium nitrate and urea are two
left out options. So, calcium nitrate or urea at 700 g N/tree as soil application and calcium nitrate (soil) + urea
(foliar) or urea (soil) + urea (foliar) at 700 g N/tree are best sources based on present experiments and therefore,
recommended for use by the farmers/orchardists.
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