Appraisal of Integrated Nutrient Management on Soil Properties and Guava Productivity.

Abstract

The approach of integrated nutrient management is essential for sustaining the soil and orchard productivity.An experiment on integrated nutrient management impacting the soil properties and guava productivity was initiated. It was concluded that indeed there was positive impact of the integrated sources on the nutrient release pattern and fruit quality.The maximum bulk density, particle density, water holding capacity, and porosity of 1.48 g/cc, 2.62 g/cc, 24.48% and 50.20%, respectively were recorded.Addition of organic sources improves the WHC and porosity.Soil organic carbon content varied between 0.23% to 0.49% with their higher content of course in the organic treated soils. Soil available N, P and K content was noted between 39.2 to 120.4, 16.9 to 38.6 and 89.0 to 277.5 mg/kg, respectively across different INM treatments.soil available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu had maximum and minimum contents of 6.18, 11.24, 2.48, 2.52 mg/kg and 1.8, 0.70, 0.40, 0.20 mg/kg, respectively.A 58.7% fruit yield in -1 level of 30 to 50 kg tree and 41.3% yield in 51 to 80 -1 kg tree was noted (Fig. 5). The pie chart indicates the need for improving the percentage level of guava -1 fruit yield (>100 kg tree ) so that farmers could harvest better yields. Still higher percentage of yield at lower level thus indicated that all of the INM combinations are not suitable for enhancing the harvesting of guava fruit. Therefore, proper nutrition combinations are important for farmers for better orchard productivity and soil fertility maintenance.