Nutritional status of soils and leaves of guava (Psidium guajava) orchards of Agra district, Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

A study was conducted on soil and plant nutritional status of guava orchards in order to identify the nutrients that are deficient / low by surveying 100 guava orchards, collection of leaf and soil samples in guava growing Agra district. In general, soils were alkaline in reaction and low in organic carbon. The range (mean) values of available N, P, K and S were 175.0 to 235.0 (196.5 kg ha-1), 8.5 to 24.0 (27.5 kg-1), 180.0 275.0 (218.5 kg ha-1) and 9.0 to 26.0 (15.5 kg ha1), respectively in orchard soils. As regards to DTPA extractable Fe, Mn and Cu, the status of these micronutrient cations was adequate in these soils. The soils of guava orchards were deficient in DTPA-Zn to the extent of 45 per cent. Most of the nutrients showed positive relationship with organic carbon content. These elements were negatively related with soil pH and calcium carbonate. The yield limiting nutrients differed from orchards to orchards though some of the nutrients were more prominent. The leaf samples were deficient in nitrogen, sulphur and zinc. On the other hand, P, K, Fe, Cu contents in majority of leaves were in optimum range in guava orchards. The ranges of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulphur content in guava leaves were from 1.55, to 2.18, to 0.16 to 0.32, 1.20 to 2.10 and 0.18 to 0.35 per cent, respectively. The corresponding ranges of micronutrient cations, i.e. Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn in guava leaves were from 145 to 242, 28.0 to 60.0, 4.5 to 10.6 and 17.5 to 35 mg kg-1.