Appraisal of soil fertility, leaf nutrient concentration and yield of mango (Mangifera indica L.) at Malihabad region, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Mango is an important fruit crop of economic importance in our country. However, the productivity of this crop is below world average. Nutritional constraitns in soil could be one of the limiting factors for achieving the potential yield in this crop. Therefore, sound knowledge of status of available major and micronutrients and their interrelationship with soil characteristics is helpful in understanding the inherent capacity of soil to supply these nutrients to plants and thereby to formulate a suitable production management strategy. A study was undertaken to assess the soil and leaf nutrients contents along with yield at farmers’ field. Soil and leaf sample analysis of 50 mango orchards in the adjoining areas of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, indicated that soils had pH of 6.1 to 7.4. Organic carbon content of most of the soil samples (>98%) were low. Soils were N deficient, medium to high in available P and medium in available K. Available Zn, Cu and Mn were deficient while Fe was sufficient. Available Zn, Cu and Mn were deficient in 48, 14 and 8 per cent soils, respectively while Fe was sufficient. Deficiency of B was recorded in all soil and leaf samples. DTPA extractable Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn and dehydrogenase activity positively and significantly correlated with organic carbon of the soils. 64% orchards showed less fruit yield as compared to the national average of 6.5 t ha-1. Thus, Zn and B seem to be the limiting factor for mango productivity in this region. This emphasized the immediate and urgent need for Zn and B nutrition along with sustainable organic matter management of orchard soil in order to maintain sound health of the soil through integrated nutrients management system in the orchards of this region for improving the productivity of mango.