Plant nutrient and distribution under different fertilizer management in Nam Dok Mai mango.
Sukthumrong A., Boonkerd N., Khumlert R., Feungchan S., Luksanawimol P., Prasittikhet J., Suriyapan O.
Author Affiliation: Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima 30000, Thailand.
: 307-314
Abstract : In 3 Nam Dok Mai mango orchards in central, eastern and northeastern Thailand, mature leaves of several mango trees under low fertilizer inputs and the soil beneath trees were analysed. Experiments on N P K and different plant nutrient management systems were established and the leaves in each treatment were analysed for nutrient and TNC content. Results indicated that the plant nutrients in soils were distributed over very wide ranges and the values for each element were not related to soil texture or region in Thailand and most plant nutrients except calcium were in the medium to low range. The plant nutrients in mango leaves were distributed in narrow ranges and could be sorted to establish diagnostic criteria for the 3 regions of Thailand. The values of plant nutrients and TNC in mango leaves were not affected much by short term fertilizer treatments. N was the only element which was much affected. Under long term high input of fertilizer in some high yielding orchards, the values could go to a very high level. Results from this experiment showed that most of the plant nutrient although available in soil in small amounts could be extracted and taken up by mango trees in almost sufficient quantities, allowing the possibility of applying slow release nutrient materials to the soil or supplying readily soluble forms either through soil or foliar applications.