Micronutrients Foliar and Drench Application Mitigate Mango Sudden Decline Disorder and Impact Fruit Yield

Abstract

Mango sudden death (MSD) or quick decline (QD) is the most destructive disease found in mango orchards of Pakistan and is characterized by collapse of the vascular system by Ceratocystis fimbriata and Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Cultural practices, chemicals, and biological control are the most valuable tools for the management of MSD, but the role of micronutrient deficiencies has remained an area that is heavily ignored by the farming community. To study the impact of micronutrients, four mango orchards were selected at different locations where different combinations of micronutrients, i.e., Zinc (Zn), Boran (B), and Copper (Cu) in the form of Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), Borax/Boric acid (H3BO3), and Copper Sulphate (CuSO4), were applied both foliar and in drench along with the recommended doses of Nitrogen: Phosphorous: Potassium (NPK), and Farmyard manure (FYM), respectively. The quantities of micronutrients were determined from the soil and leaves before and after application of the treatments. The impact of micronutrients was measured in terms of reduction in disease severity and increase in fruit yield. The results revealed that the application of all three micronutrients both in soil drench and in foliar form significantly decreased the disease severity at three locations and increased the yield in all four mango orchards. Application of ZnSO4 (0.8%), +H3BO3 (0.8%), +CuSO4 (0.5%) and as soil drench ZnSO4 (400 g) + Borax (200 g) + CuSO4 200 g plant−1 proved to be the best treatments, with an average of 12.88 and 14.03% reduction in disease severity and with an average yield of 128 and 119 kg, respectively. The application of micronutrients would be a promising solution in an integrated disease management program used to tackle MSD.

Potential Role of Biochar on Capturing Soil Nutrients, Carbon Sequestration and Managing Environmental Challenges: A Review

“…The application of BC as soil conditioner has the potential to enhance soil aeration, soil structure, water holding capacity, microbial biomass carbon, enzymatic activities, soil organic carbon (SOC) content [46,[53][54][55][56] and nutrient retention and availability [56,57], which may reduce the nutrient leaching from soil surface to groundwater [58]. Table 1 summarizes the influence of BC amendment on soil properties.…”

Salinity stress improves antioxidant potential by modulating physio-biochemical responses in Moringa oleifera Lam.

“…Salt tolerant plants acquire various physiological and metabolic adaptations to avoid specific ion toxicity, osmotic shock 1 – 3 , nutrient imbalance 4 and oxidative damage 5 – 7 . Increase in root and/ or shoot biomass also helps in regulating Na + entry to the xylem or to decrease its transport to the shoot 8 , 9 while excluding and avoiding toxic ions during the process 10 .…”

Improving Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) through Nitrogen Application under Semiarid Conditions

“…Among essential plant nutrients, N is recommended to be applied in the maximum amount throughout the world because of its high losses through volatilization, immobilization, de-nitrification, and leaching into the soil; thus, its efficiency remains less than 70% to the applied amount [7]. Wheat crop is sensitive to N deficiency, however, on the other hand, excess of N promotes lush and prolonged vegetative growth which may accentuate lodging, frost injury, and disease incidence [8]. For wheat, N requirement is highest from the jointing to heading stage and it declines thereafter as the crop approaches maturity [9][10][11].…”