Nutrient status of mango orchards in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh.
Padmaja G., Pratap M., Rameshwar A.
Author Affiliation: Regional Agricultural Research Station, Palem - 509 215, Mahboobnagar district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Journal of Research ANGRAU 28 : 63-65
Abstract : A nutritional survey of mango orchards was initiated in Andhra Pradesh, India in 1980 and extended to several districts in subsequent years. Mahaboobnagar and Ranga Reddy districts were covered in 1994 and 1995, respectively. The major soil types of the surveyed orchards in Ranga Reddy distinct were red chalkas and red earths. Twenty leaves from each orchard were analysed for N, P, K, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn. The N, P and K contents (%) of leaf samples ranged from 0.241 to 1.895 (mean, 1.188), 0.015 to 0.095 (mean, 0.055) and 0.122 to 0.951 (mean, 0.356), respectively. According to the critical levels (CLs) of N, P and K, in 31.80% of the leaf samples, N was deficient (1%), with the lowest values recorded in samples from orchards in Mankhal village. P and K contents were deficient (0.07 P and 0.60% K) in 59.00 and 86.30% of the leaf samples, respectively. Fe content ranged from 36.2 to 191.0 ppm, with the lowest Fe values recorded from Sirigiripur. The lowest value (2.2 ppm) of Cu was recorded in samples from orchards in Dundigal and Kandlakoya villages. Mn content varied from 33.0 (Appareddy village) to 230.2 ppm (Kistapur village), with a mean of 98.5 ppm. Zn content ranged from 5.8 to 22.2 ppm (mean, 17.80 ppm). According to CLs, Zn, Cu and Fe were deficient in 81.8% (CL, 20 ppm), 68.1% (CL, 7 ppm) and 22.7% (CL, 45 ppm) of the orchards, respectively. However, Mn was not deficient in any of the samples analysed.