Integrated nutrient management in Mango and Guava.
Ravishankar H., Kailash Kumar, Atul Singha, Tarun Adak
Author Affiliation: Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Rehmankhera, PO: Kakori, Lucknow - 227 107, UP, India.
Indian Journal of Fertilisers 6 : 12-21
Abstract : Mango and Guava are the two important fruit crops of economic importance and offer sustainability in integrated farming options of dry and marginal land agriculture systems. Despite this possibility, they have failed to make major impacts in the production scenario and markets due to variety of factors important among them being the quantity and quality of production chiefly impacted by suboptimal nutrient management strategies in production systems. Both quantity as well as quality of harvests is influenced by different kinds of nutrient disorders caused either by deficiency or excess. Long term and continuous application of one favoured nutrient source may lead to its accumulation in soil resulting in the increased concentration and build up of nutrient that may interact with other nutrients influencing either synergism or antagonism. This situation, therefore, precludes rational application of nutrients for ensuring efficient use of the external input in production systems for optimizing productivity besides addressing issues of pollution. Soils of vast areas in the country suffer from macro as well as micronutrients deficiencies in different degrees raising deep concerns about issues of soil as well as human health impacting sustainability and livelihood options. This emphasizes the need for an integrated nutrient management approach for sustainability of crop production across the region including mango and guava. Uses of organic and fertiliser sources that are locally available, culturally suitable and economically viable are needed for ensuring balanced supply of nutrients impacting soil and human health needs to be targeted. Microbial associations in this area of research need critical investigation for harmonizing synergy. A site-specific nutrient management strategy for improving orchard efficiency of these crops is highlighted.