Effect of orchard floor management practices on growth, yield, leaf and soil nutrients in nectarine (Prunus persica)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to assess the impact of different orchard floor management practices on growth, yield, leaf and soil nutrients in nectarine cv. Snow Queen. The maximum increase in annual shoot growth (65.05 cm), trunk girth (11.17%), tree height (13.25%), tree volume (41.10%), yield (59.59% was recorded under black polythene mulch. Maximum leaf area (31.40 cm2) and total chlorophyll (2.62 mg/g fresh weight) were observed under bicolour polythene mulch. Maximum leaf macro nutrient [N (2.73 %), P (0.22%), K (2.17%), Ca (1.90%), Mg (0.59%), soil nutrient [available N (355.92 kg/ha), P (40.74 kg/ha), K (367.78 kg/ha), exchangeable Ca (2.86 cmol (P+)/kg) and Mg (2.91 cmol (P+) /kg)] and soil organic carbon (2.09%) content were recorded under grass mulch. Black polythene mulch and bicolour polythene mulches are the best orchard floor management options for rainfed areas of Himachal Pradesh.

Physiological and Nutrient Responses to Nitrogen, Phosphorus, or Potassium Deficiency of Hydroponically Grown Strawberry

“…After washing and drying, the plant was divided into four parts, including the root, stem, leaf, and fruit, which were then respectively put into an oven for enzyme deactivation at 105 C for 30 min, and the dry weight was measured after drying at 80 C for 24 h. Subsequently, the tissues were ground and digested with H 2 SO 4 -H 2 O 2 , and used for the determination of mineral nutrient content. Total N was determined with the Kjeldahl nitrogen determination method (Kjeltec 8100; Foss Inc., Hilleroed, Denmark); the P content of the plants was estimated with the vanadomolybdate phosphoric acid method (Thermo Scientific Microplate Reader; Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) (Sharma and Sharma, 2019); and available K was determined by flame photometer (FP6410; PI Inc., Shanghai, China). Each treatment was repeated three times.…”