Correlation of Physico-chemical Characteristic with Available Nutrients and Leaf Nutrient Content in Apple (Cv. Red Delicious) Orchard of Jammu and Kashmir (India)

Abstract

To study the “Nutrient Status of Apple Orchard Soils of South Kashmir” a survey was carried in twenty apple orchards (cv. Red Delicious) of south Kashmir. The soil samples were analyzed for studying the Correlation between physico-chemical characteristic and available nutrients. The correlation coefficient studies revealed that pH indicated significant and positive correlation coefficient with exchangeable calcium and magnesium and exhibited significant and negative relationship with available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, iron, manganese, zinc and copper. The organic carbon showed positive and significant correlation coefficient with available nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, iron, zinc and copper. The calcium carbonate showed significant and positive correlation with exchangeable calcium and magnesium but significant and negative correlation coefficient with available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, manganese and zinc. The clay content revealed significant and positive relationship with available potassium only. The leaf analysis showed that apple orchards were adequate in all nutrients, whileas, nitrogen was marginal to high and phosphorus was marginal to adequate.