Variation of Micronutrients in Soil and Leaves of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) Orchards in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Management of micronutrients require special attention in orchard soils as the requirement of micronutrients for nutrition, physiological need and quality control is more in fruit crops. Distribution and variability of micronutrients in the soil and leaf of litchi orchards of Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh was studied. For this, forty soil sampling sites from litchi growing areas were selected randomly. Surface (0-15 cm) and sub-surface (15-30 cm) soil samples were collected during the months of October to November, 2018 after the harvesting of litchi fruit and analyzed for DTPA extractable micronutrients. Litchi leaf samples were collected during August to September, 2018 from where the soil samples were collected and analyzed for the content of micronutrients. Results revealed that all the micronutrients in soil were found high in status except zinc which was medium in status. Most of the micronutrient contents of litchi leaf were sufficient. All the DTPA-extractable micronutrients were negatively correlated with soil pH, EC, available P, K and S and exchangeable calcium and magnesium. Highest significant positive correlation of leaf iron, copper, manganese and zinc was found with the irrespective availability in soil.