Leaf and soil nutrient status in relation to yield of mango.
Reddy Y. T. N., Kurian R. M., Sujatha N. T., Srinivas M.
Author Affiliation: Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore 560 089, India.
Indian Journal of Horticulture 60 : 121-126
Abstract : A survey of 25 private mango orchards comprising 3 cultivars, namely Banganapally, Totapuri and Alphonso, were carried out in Nuzuvid, Srinivaspur and Krisnagiri areas of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, India, respectively. The orchards were classified as high- and low-yielding. Soil and leaf samples were collected at 4 stages, i.e. after harvesting, before flowering, at flowering and at pea-size of the fruits. Leaf samples were collected from 5 to 6 months old shoots from non-bearing branches. Soil samples were collected at 0.5 m from tree trunk and from 3 depths, i.e. 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm. Year-wise and orchard to orchard variations in soil and leaf nutrients were observed. Leaf N varied significantly between the high- and low-yielding orchards. Leaf N, P and K contents were above the critical limits in both high- and low-yielding orchards. However, high-yielding orchards showed higher leaf N, P and K contents. Fruit yield had significant correlation with leaf N before and during flowering, leaf P after harvest, and leaf K before flowering, soil N at pea stage, and soil K before flowering, during flowering and at pea stage of fruits. The results indicated the importance of N and K nutrition in enhancing the productivity of mango orchards. Linear and multi-linear regression equations specified the fruit yield variations accounted for by the leaf and soil nutrients. Leaf nutrient status explained the yield variations better than the soil nutrient content.