Diagnostic Leaf Nutrient Norms and Identification of Yield-Limiting Nutrients of Mango in Eastern Plateau and Hill Region of India

Abstract

The leaf nutritional status of mango orchards was assessed using diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS). The DRIS norms, which showed higher variance and lower coefficients of variation, are found to have greater diagnostic precision. As per DRIS indices, a relative deficiency for magnesium, zinc, and boron corresponding to relative sufficiency for calcium, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium was detected in 9- year-old mango orchards. For the younger orchards (6–7 year old), the order of requirement of nutrients was found to be calcium > sulfur > potassium > boron > nitrogen > phosphorus > magnesium > zinc. Boron was found as the most yield-limiting elements in all age group of plants. When the DRIS indices were compared on the basis of soil pH, calcium and magnesium were most yield-limiting nutrients below pH 5.5, while nitrogen, zinc, and boron were found to be most limiting above pH 5.5.