Site-Specific Nutrient Management in Nagpur Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) Raised on Contrasting Soil Types

ABSTRACT

Efforts were made to develop soil fertility variogram-based site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) practices in Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) grown on smectite clay soil (Typic Ustorthent and Typic Haplustert) of central India. Different SSNM treatments were more responsive on Ustorthent than Haplustert due to difference in type and magnitude of multiple nutrient deficiencies. Best SSNM treatment in terms of response on canopy growth, yield, fruit quality, and soil-plant nutrient buildup were observed to be T₉ [nitrogen (N₁₂₀₀) + phosphorus (P₆₀₀) + potassium (K₆₀₀) + M₁S₁] and T₆ (N₆₀₀ + P₄₀₀ + K₃₀₀ + M₁S₁) on shallow soil and deep soil, respectively, within the same orchard. Fertilizer use needs to be tailored per these doses instead of recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) (T₁₆) as a basis. Effect of K was more pronounced at N₆₀₀ + P₄₀₀ (T₅–T₈) than at N₁₂₀₀ + P₆₀₀ (T₉–T₁₂), irrespective of soil types.

KEYWORDS:

• Central India
• Haplustert
• Nagpur mandarin
• recommended doses of fertilizers
• site-specific nutrient management
• Ustorthent

Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to K. N. Tiwari and K. Majumdar, International Plant Nutrition Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana for necessary technical inputs.

Funding

This work was financed by the International Plant Nutrition Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana, India as an externally funded project of the Central Citrus Research Institute.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financed by the International Plant Nutrition Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana, India as an externally funded project of the Central Citrus Research Institute.