Tarun Adak

Green manuring and nutrient management impacting soil properties and sustainability of mango orchard

In view of declining soil health and mango orchard productivity, an experiment was laid out to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on nutrient dynamics and mango orchard productivity in Lucknow region. Soil organic carbon content varied between 0.41 to 0.61% (0–30 cm) and less than 0.34% (30–60 cm) across different treatments. The highest average available P and improvement in K availability was noticed wherever green manuring (GM) or farm yard manure (FYM) along with NPK was added. Similarly, a positive effect of integrated nutrient management on enhanced availability of DTPA extractable micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) was inferred. A wide range of yield variation was recorded across the seasons and treatments. Addition of FYM improved sustainability index (0.58) while green manuring further improved it (0.66) as compared to control (0.43). TSS and ascorbic acid content ranged between 17.8 to 20.3°B and 19 to 36.3 mg/100g, respectively. Ascorbic acid content was significantly differing among the treatments while TSS and acidity was not much affected. The present study concluded that inclusion of green manuring/FYM as a component in integrated nutrient management system in low fertile mango orchard soils had positive effect on soil quality and sustainable fruit productivity.

Effect Of Integrated Nutrient Management On Some Soil Properties In Mango Orchard

Mango orchard soils of Uttar Pradesh are generally poor in essential soil nutrients and low fertility had impacted productivity as well as fruit quality. Integrated nutrient management with different organic and inorganic substrates may be a boon to improvement in soil processes and thereby productivity of the orchards. Results from an experiment on integrated nutrient management for mango orchard indicated improvement in soil properties. Improvement in soil organic carbon (SOC) content (0.45%) during four years of experimentation was recorded over the initial level of 0.21%. Soil moisture retention improved with organic mulching. Microbial activity in the form of dehydrogenase activity was also enhanced by integration of organics particularly vermicompost. Positive effect of different nutrient sources on availability of NPK and DTPA-extractable micronutrients were also revealed. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down.

Seasonal incidence and weather based forecasting model for mango leaf webber Orthaga eudrusalis walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) under subtropical conditions

A field experiment was conducted for two consecutive seasons (2013 and 2014) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh to study seasonal incidence and develop weather based forecasting model for mango leaf webber. A wide variation was observed in the leaf webber incidence across fixed plot orchards, standard meteorological weeks (SMW) and between two seasons. The peak incidence of leaf webber was found during the 37th SMW during the year 2013 with 9.7 webs per tree, whereas, in the consecutive season its peak incidence was observed during 38th SMW with 3.5 webs per tree. Mango leaf webber incidence was found to be significant negative correlation with minimum temperature (r =-0.39**), wind speed (r =-0.48**) and positively correlated with the minimum relative humidity (r = 0.37**). Compare to linear models, polynomial models had explained highest amount of variation. Minimum temperature, minimum relative humidity along with wind speed had explained 36 per cent of variation in the leaf webber incidence. Hence, the weather based forecasting model for the leaf webber (Y) for Lucknow region is Y = 31.90–1.35 × minimum temperature-0.72 × wind speed + 0.08 × minimum relative humidity (R2 = 0.36; F = 4.20 p< 0.01). This prediction model after validation can be utilized in the agro advisories for predicting the incidence and timely management of leaf webber.

Response Of Guava Trees (Psidium Guajava) To Soil Applications Of Mineral And Organic Fertilisers And Biofertilisers Under Conditions Of Low Fertile Soil

Abstract The goal of this study was to assess the influence of different organic fertilisers - vermicompost, mulching, Azotobacter, phosphate solubilising microbes (PSM) and Trichoderma harzianum added each year to mineral fertilisers containing NPK and to farmyard manure (FYM) on leaf nutrient status, tree growth, fruit yield and quality of guava grown in low fertile soil. The results revealed that vermicompost, bio-fertilisers and organic mulching resulted in yield and fruit quality boosters, as compared to application of NPK and FYM as the only organic fertiliser. Significant differences in plant height, canopy spread and stem girth of guava plants were obtained in combination, where Azotobacter, T. harzianum, PSM and organic mulching were applied. The leaf nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn) were within sufficient ranges. Fruit yields and quality were highest in combination, where vermicompost, Azotobacter, T. harzianum, PSM and organic mulching was applied. Fruit quality parameters viz. soluble solid concentration, titratable acidity, total sugars and ascorbic acid showed positive correlation with the available macro- and micronutrients in the soil.