Soil fertility and leaf nutrient status of macro-nutrients in mango orchards under Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Based on uniformity in respect of age and tree vigour, 30 representative orchards were selected and “Dashehri” variety of mango was selected for study. Soil (0-15 and 15-30 cm depths) and plant (leaf) samples collected from mango orchards were analyzed for physico-chemical properties (texture, pH, EC, OC) and macro-nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S). The soils were coarser in nature having sandy loam to sandy clay loam texture and were nearly neutral in reaction. The electrical conductivity values were in safe limits (less than 0.8 dSm-1). The organic carbon contents were medium to high. The per cent coefficient of variations found high in soil and plants could be due to variations in parent material and orchard management practices. Organic carbon was positively and significantly correlated with N and P. Available N, K, Mg and S exhibited positive and significant relationship with their respective leaf nutrient contents.