INM in fruit crops: Sustaining quality production and soil health

Sustainability in quality production and ensuring a tangible soil health, are the two most discerning challenges, which the fruit crops are likely to confront with in years to come. Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is one such option, which exploits the synergy of divergent nutrient sources. As many as four modules of INM (T2: RDF + VAM 500 g/plant + PSB 100g/plant + Azospirillum 50g/plant; T3 : 100% RDF + VAM 500 g/plant + PSB 100g/ plant + Azospirillum 100g/plant + T. harzianum 100g/plant; T4 : 75% RDF + VAM 500 g/plant + PSB 100g/plant + Azospirillum 100g/plant and T5 :50% RDF + VAM 500 g/plant + PSB g/plant + Azospirillum 100g/plant + T.harzianum 100g/plant) were tested against inorganic mineral fertilization T1 (Recommended dose of fertilizers, RDF (900 N- 225 P2O5-225 K2O g/plant for Nagpur mandarin, 450 N- 225 P2O5 – 450 K2O g/plant for Khasi mandarin and 1125 N- 263 P2O5 - 300 K2O g/plant for Sathgudi sweet orange) as control in 11-12 year-old Nagpur mandarin orchard established on Vertisols at Akola, Maharashtra (2009-15); Khasi mandarin on Alfisols at Tinsukia, Asom (2009-15) and Sathgudi sweet orange on Inceptisols at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh (2006-19) under All India Coordinated Research Project on Fruits. Based on pooled data analysis, treatment T4 with 75% RDF + VAM (500 g/plant) + PSB (100 g/plant) + Azospirillum (100 g/plant) + T. harzianum (100 g/plant) produced by far the best response over T1 control in Nagpur mandarin grown on Vertisol. Similarly, in Khasi mandarin, raised on Alfisol, T4 was observed significantly superior over T1 control. While in Sathgudi sweet orange on Alfisol, T4 surpassed rest of the other treatments including T1 control. Soil health parameters were significantly better with treatment T4 exploiting the efficacy of INM module than treatment T1 as control. The review on recommendations of INM on a variety of fruit crops (Guava, mango, banana, papaya, pomegranate, aonla, litchi, sapota, lemon) revealed similar combinations. These observations provided a countrywide database that INM module which consists of nutrient sources having three-tier nutrient release pattern, has far reaching consequences on soil and plant health ranslating into real guard production sustainability, nearer to climate resilient fruit crops.