NUTRIENT INDEXING OF GUAVA ORCHARDS IN HISAR DISTRICT OF HARYANA, INDIA

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1 Indian J. Agric. Res.., 48 (3) , 2014 doi: /j x AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE NUTRIENT INDEXING OF GUAVA ORCHARDS IN HISAR DISTRICT OF HARYANA, INDIA Satpal Baloda*, Vinod Phogat, S.K. Bhatia, J.R. Sharma and Shweta Department of Horticulture, CCS Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar India Received: Accepted: ABSTRACT Soil and leaf samples were collected from 12 Guava orchards of 3-35 years of age with average growth and productivity in the month of August The gross return varied from Rs ,000 as per acre as the statement of growers. The E.C, p.h and O.C of surface soil samples (0-30 cm) were found almost similar with non orchard soils. The available N, P and K contents of surface soil was higher than the available N, P and K contents of non orchard soil. The nitrogen of the surface soil had low index values where as phosphorus and potassium had high index value. Micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe) of surface soil samples had high index values. Guava plants had sufficient amount of Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn. In case of nitrogen, 83% orchards were found to be deficient. Deficiencies of orchards were higher in case of P and K. The present study clearly indicates that the soil conditions exert considerable influence on nutrient status of the fruit trees. Key words: Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Nutrient indexing, Psidium guajava. INTRODUCTION Guava is one of the most familiar fruit cro ps of North Indi a because of i ts hi gh adaptability to wide range of climate and soil condition. It is gaining popularity among fruit growers of Haryana. Farmers, sometimes apply either more or less fertilizers than the requirement of the plants, which affect growth adversely. Thus, analysis of leaves for elemental composition is a better tool to assess the fertilizer requirements as reported by Bould et al (1964). Soil and leaf nutrient concentrations standards have been developed by numerous researchers to evaluate the nutrient status of fruit plants as reported by Chavan and Patil (1980). However, information is scanty on nutrient indexing of the fruit trees. In general, the bearing capacity of guava trees declines after 8-15 years depending on the maintenance of orchards and application of manure and fertilizers. Most of the guava growers in Haryana don t apply required quantities of fertilizers as per recommendations. The nutrients, if not applied in required quantity and proportion, may lead to their deficiency in plants. Therefore, the present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the macro and micro nutrient status of both soil and leaves of guava plants from the orchards of Hisar district in order to correct their deficiencies in standing crops. MATERIALS AND METHODS The soil samples, from 12 guava orchards representing entire guava belt of Hisar district, were collected and analyzed for their nutrient contents. Surface (O-30cm) and sub surface (30-90 cm) soil samples were taken from each guava orchard and nearby non orchard soil separately. Soil samples were analyzed for ph, E.C. (1:2 soil water suspensions) as described by Jackson (1967), organic carbon, available N, P, K. Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe. Leaf samples were collected from trees of above orchards in the month of August The orchards were 3 to 35 years of age. Recently matured leaves were collected and analysed for N, P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu contents as described by Chapman and Pratt (1961). A socio economic survey of the orchard growers was also analyzed. * Corresponding author s s_baloda@rediffmail.com.

2 212 INDIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH TABLE 1: Socio-economical survey of the selected guava orchards of the Hisar district. e d

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The data in Table 1 reveal that the age of the orchards varies in between 3 to 35 years. The growers, generally applied 10 kg FYM per plant in addition to other fertilizers available with them. The yield varies from 5 to 300 q/ acre. The gross return per acre also varies from Rs per acre as per statements of the growers. Soil analysis: The data presented in Table 2A reveal that the ph of surface soil samples (0-30 cm) varies from 7.37 to 8.53 which is considered as satisfactory for orchards as reported by Bose et. al.,(2002) EC varies from 0.11 to 0.44 dsm -1 and organic carbon from 0.19 to 0.61%. In case of nearby non orchard soils, the ph of the surface soil (0-30 cm) varies from 7.46 to 8.60, E.C to 0.43 dsm- 1 and organic carbon %. However in case of subsurface soil samples (30-90cm) ph, EC and organic carbon were low in both orchard and non orchard soil as compared to the surface soil samples (0-30cm).The data in Table 2B reveal that available N, P, K contents of surface soils varies from to 166.4, kg/ ha and kg/ ha, respectively. In case of non orchard surface soils, the available N varies from , P kg/ ha and K kg/ ha, respectively. Similarly in case of sub surface soil samples (30-90cm) N, P and K contents were low in both orchard and non orchard soils. The low level of organic carbon may be due to the reason that the growers generally apply small Vol. 48, No. 3, quantities of Farm yard manure. The nitrogen content of the soil samples were in low range. The phosphorus content of the soil samples fluctuated from medium to high range whereas potassium content is in high range. The data in Table 2C reveal that the zinc content of surface soil (0-30 cm depth) of the orchard soils under the experimental sites varied from 1.02 to 3.50, copper from 0.36 to 2.28, Mn from 4.74 to and Fe from 4.24 to mg/ l respectively. Similarly in case of sub surface soil (30-90 cm) depth, Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe varied from 0.90 to 3.40; 0.20 to 2.90, 3.88 to 16.50, 4.12 to ppm respectively. In case of non orchard surface soils, the DTPA extractable Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe varied.92 to 3.10; 0.40 to 2.80, 6.00 to 16.83, 5.10 to mg/ kg soil respectively. The results were similar with earlier as reported by Singh and Gupta (1997) The data in Table 3 reveal that nitrogen of the surface soils have low index values whereas and phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe) contents have high index values. Similar trend was observed in sub surface soil samples. No. of samples in low X 1 + No. of samples in medium X 2 + No. of samples in high X 3 IV = Total number of samples Name of Block Name of village TABLE 2A: Physico-chemical properties of the soils of guava orchards of Hisar 0-30 cm cm ph EC O.C. ph EC O.C. O NO O NO O NO O NO O NO O NO Hansi Hansi Sisai Narnaund Khandakheri Majra Uklana Uklana Mugalpura Adampur Kaliraman Siswal Hisar II Kaimeri Mangali Hisar I Aryanagar Hisar Hisar Mean District Range O = Orchard Soil No = Non orchard soil

4 = Orchard Soil = Orchard Soil O O = Non orchard soil No = Non orchard soil TABLE 2C: Available micronutrient status of the soils of guava orchards of Hisar. No TABLE 2B: Available nutrient status of the soils of guava orchards of Hisar INDIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

5 Vol. 48, No. 3, Leaf analysis : The data in Table 4 indicate that the nitrogen content of leaves ranged from per cent. The phosphorus content of leaves ranged from 0.11 to 0.28 per cent. The leaf potassium content varied from per cent. These values are comparatively similar to those as reported earlier by Chavan and Patil (1980) and Khanduja and Garg (1980). The Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn content of leaves ranged from 8.70 to 23.4, 9.72to 18.8, to and 31.2 to 72.6 mg/ kg, respectively. The data in Table 5 reveal that the guava plants have sufficient amount of Zn, Cu and Fe contents. However, in case of nitrogen, 83% orchards were found to be deficient. Deficiency percentages of orchards were high in case of phosphorus and potassium. In case of potassium 91% deficiency was TABLE 3: Nutrient indexing of soil of guava orchards of Hisar cm Low Medium High Index value Range N L P H K H Zn H Cu H Mn H Fe H cm Low Medium High Index value Range N L P M K H Zn H Cu H Mn H Fe H TABLE 4: Nutrient status of guava leaves. Name of farmer village N % P % K % Zn ppm Cu ppm Fe ppm Mn ppm Hansi Hansi Sisai Narnaund Khandakheri Majra Uklana Uklana Mugalpura Adampur Kaliraman Siswal Hisar II Kaimeri Mangali Hisar I Aryanagar Hisar Hisar District Mean Range TABLE 5: Indexing of nutrients in guava fruit. Nutrients Critical limit Sufficient Deficient Deficiencies % N P K Zn Cu Fe Mn observed. In phosphorus content 75% orchards were deficient whereas in case of manganese 8% deficiency was observed. This may be attributed to the fact that the orchardists usually apply low doses of N, P & K fertilizers. These results were similar with earlier findings as observed by Dahiya et al (1987).

6 216 INDIAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH REFERENCES Bose, T.K; Mitra, S.K and Sanyal, D.(2002). Fruits: Tropical and Subtropical book published by Naya Udyog, Calcutta. pp Bould, C, Prevol, P. and Magness, J.R.(1964). Plant analysis and fertilizer problems. Vol IV Pub. By American Society for Horticultural Sci. Chapman, H.D and Pratt,P.F. (1961). Methods of Analysis for Soil, Plant and Water.California Div. Agric.Sci.USA. Chavan,S.D and Patil,V.K.(1980). Standardization of leaf sampling technique in Ber.cv. Banarasi.Indian J. Hort. 37 : Dahiya, S.S; Ahlawat, V.P; and Yamdagni, R.(1987). Nutritional status of guava orchards in Haryana. Intern. J.Trop.Agril. 5(1) : Jackson, M.L (1967). Soil Chemical Analysis.Asia Publishing House, Bombay. Khanduja, S.D and Garg, V.K.(1980). Nutritional status of guava (Psidium guajava) trees in North India. J. Hort. Sci. 55: Singh, C.P and Gupta, S.P. (1997). Maintenance of guava orchards through Micro and Secondary nutrient managenment. Haryana J. Hort.Sci.29 (1-2) : 32-34