Effect of bio-organic and inorganic nutrient sources to improve leaf nutrient status in apricot

Abstract

The present study was carried out on 20-year-old ‘New Castle’ apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) trees grown in Shiwalik hill range of north-western Himalayan region of India. The conjoint efficacy of bio-organics used along with chemical fertilizers for improving leaf nutrient content. Bio-organic nutrient sources namely, vermi-compost (VC), bio-fertilizer (BF), cow urine (CU) and two levels of NPK fertilizers, i.e. 75 and 50% of recommended dose were evaluated in 13 different treatment combinations. The conjoint treatment application of bio-fertilizer- 60 g tree−1, vermi-compost- 30 kg tree−1, cow urine -12.5% as foliar application and 50% NPK significantly improved total N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn contents of leaf and was significantly increased by 30.4, 109.5, 31.6, 33.5, 65.7, 34.6, 71.9, 47.5 and 31.3%, respectively over control (traditional orchard practice). The study inferred a saving of 50% of NPK fertilizers over the traditional orchard practice being followed in the region.