Journal of Horticultural Sciences

K. Anjaneyulu ¹, H. B. Raghupathi ¹, M. K. Chandraprakash ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore-560 089, IN

Abstract

Multivariate nutrient diagnostic norms were developed for guava using compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND) through leaf nutrient concentration vs. yield data bank. CND norms for N (V_N), P (V_P) and K (V_K) were 2.48, 0.23 and 2.13, respectively. Norms for N and K were much higher compared to P, indicating higher requirement of these two nutrients. CND norms are multivariate norms that consider all elements, including unmeasured factors and, therefore, has higher diagnostic sensitivity. Among micronutrients, Fe requirement was much higher than all other nutrients. Interaction among different nutrients was explained by principal component analysis conducted on log-transformed data which produced four significant PCs, explaining about 73.66% of the variance. The four Eigen values added up to 8.1 denoting the four significant PCs. The first PC was positively correlated with P, Zn and R (residue, which is a reflection of dry matter accumulation in the plant) and negatively correlated with Ca, Mg, S and Fe, indicating that P and Zn behaved in one direction and the other elements in opposite direction. In the second PC, antagonistic effect of N, Fe with P and Cu was evident. In PC3, P and Mg were negatively correlated with Mn and Cu. In PC4, N and S showed their behaviour in the same direction. Diagnostic norms developed were used for identification of yield-limiting nutrients in low-yielding orchards. Thus, diagnostic norms and nutrient interactions help evolve nutrient management strategies for guava to realize higher yields and better quality.

Keywords

Nutrients, Diagnosis, Norms, CND, PCA, Guava.

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A. N. Ganeshamurthy ¹, D. Kalaivanan ¹, T. R. Rupa ¹, H. B. Raghupathi ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Natural Resource Management, ICAR - Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru - 560 089, IN

Abstract

Perennial horticulture in India has undergone a change from rainfed system to drip fertigation systems and from isolated hedge and bund trees to high intensity orchard systems with enhanced number of trees per unit area. In several parts, particularly in the Deccan plateau, the system has now become completely dependent on water pumped from tube wells. Severe competition for water from tube wells makes farmers to devote more water for cash rich annual crops and even sell water for city dwellers nearby. As a consequence, the groundwater level in the past three decades has fallen from few feet to above thousand feet. At several places it has crossed the “peak water”. Frequent and prolonged exposure of fruit trees and nuts to drought coupled with ground water depletion has led to soil profile drying leading to reduced vigour and enhanced vulnerability to diseases and pests. This has led to withering of fruit and nut trees. Perennial crops are likely to become increasingly maladapted to their environment, particularly in the earlier period of climate change they are more likely to be attacked by diseases and insects. Coconuts, areca nuts and mango trees have died in several places and the government constituted committees have recommended compensation to the farmers. As a country, we have dramatically increased our reliance on groundwater. 175 million Indians are now fed with food produced with the unsustainable use of groundwater. This increase has dried up rivers and lakes, because there is a hydrologic connection between groundwater and surface water. Yet the legal rules governing water use usually ignore the link between law and science. The issue needs thorough examination and needs policy interventions to come out of this vicious circle.

Keywords

Drought, Fruit Trees, Groundwater Depletion, Peak Water, Perennial Crops, Policy Issue.

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A. N. Ganeshamurthy ¹, P. Govindakrishnan ², H. B. Raghupathi ¹, M. B. Mahendra Kumar ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengaluru - 560 089, IN
2 ICAR-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla, IN

Abstract

A survey was conducted in potato fields for collection of leaf samples to establish nutrient concentration yield data bank. The data bank was used for developing multivariate compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND) norms for assessing the nutritional status of selected centres of potato growing fields. The mean N, P and K concentrations were 2.09, 0.25 and 4.16 %, respectively. The mean Ca (1.11%) concentration was twice higher compared to Mg (0.63 %) concentration. The mean values of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn and B were 43.69, 31.24, 986.71, 192.76 and 59.98 ppm, respectively. The CND norms for V_N, V_P and V_K were 3.04, 0.94 and 3.73, respectively. The norm for Ca (V_Ca=2.45) and Mg (V_Mg=1.78) were much narrower compared to the absolute nutrient concentration. The norm for V_Zn, V_Cu, V_Fe, V_Mn and V_B were -3.24, -3.60, -0.23, -1.98 and -2.89respectively. The multivariate CND norms developed for ten nutrients proved to be an important tool for diagnosis of nutrient imbalance in potato. The nutrient indices developed indicated that Zn was the most common yield-limiting nutrient. The CND norms and the indices developed can be used for identifying the hidden hunger of various nutrients in potato for evolving nutrient management strategies.

Keywords

CND Norms, Nutrients and Potato.

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