Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2001: 3(2): 78-81

Leaf and soil nutrient status of mango (Mangifera indica L.) grown in peninsular India and their relationship with yield

Reddy, Y T N; Kurian, R M; Sujatha, N T; Srinivas, M

Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore - 560 089, India.

Twenty-five mango orchards in Nuzuvid (Andhra Pradesh), Srinivaspur (Karnataka), and Krishnagiri (Tamil Nadu), India, were evaluated for leaf and soil nutrient status from 1994 to 1997. Banganapally was grown in 5 orchards, Alphonso in 5 orchards, and Totapuri in 15 orchards. The trees in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were 30- to 40-year-old, whereas those in Tamil Nadu were 20-year-old. The high-yielding trees had higher leaf N content than the low-yielding trees. The orchards in Andhra Pradesh had the highest leaf and soil nutrient (N, P, and K) levels. The available soil N significantly varied between high-yielding and low-yielding trees only before the flowering stage. The available soil P and K did not significantly vary with the growth stage. The high-yielding orchards recorded higher soil N and P, and lower soil K than the low-yielding orchards. Fruit yield was positively correlated with leaf N before and during flowering, with leaf P after harvest, and with leaf K before flowering. Fruit yield was positively correlated with the available soil N at the pea-size fruit stage, and with available soil K before and during flowering, and at the pea-size fruit stage. Leaf N accounted for 40.17 and 29.50% of yield variation before and during flowering, respectively. In terms of soil nutrient status at 1.0 m radial distance from the trunk, the greatest yield variation was attributed to soil K before flowering, whereas the lowest yield variation was attributed to soil N at the pea-size fruit stage. Leaf and soil P contents were not significantly correlated with fruit yield. Leaf nutrient status had greater effects on fruit yield than soil nutrient status.