VERMA, M LANJALI KUMARI2020-11-302020-11-302020-11https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810156038ABSTRACT Investigation entitled “Nutritional survey of apple (Malus domestica Borkh) orchards in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh” was undertaken to ascertain the nutritional status of apple orchards, located in Nichar, Kalpa and Pooh blocks of Kinnaur district and to establish the relationships among soil characteristics and nutrient contents of soils and plants. Based on uniformity in respect of age and tree vigour, 30 representative orchards were selected. Starking Delicious variety of apple was selected for study as most of the well established orchards in these blocks were under this variety. Soil (0-15 and 15-30 cm depths) and plant samples collected from apple orchards were analyzed for soil properties viz., soil texture, pH ,EC OC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, B and Mo status. The soils were found sandy loam to sandy clay loam in texture and slightly acidic to slightly alkaline in reaction. The electrical conductivity values were in safe limits (less than 0.8 dSm-1). The organic carbon contents were found high in range. Nutrient index value indicated that the soils were high in available K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe and Mn except N, Zn, B and Mo and they were medium in both surface and sub-surface depths. The leaf nutrient status showed that the N,K and Mo were found high in range and Ca, S and Zn was low to medium in range. The Mg and B were found medium in range. The per cent coefficient of variation found high in soil and plants could be due to variations in parent material and orchard management practices. Organic carbon was significantly and positively correlated with N, Ca and Zn. Available N, K Ca, Mg, S and Cu exhibited positively and significant relationship with their respective leaf nutrient contents.EnglishThesis