Micronutrient status of apple orchards in Quetta valley [Pakistan]
2000
Burki, F.N.
The study was planned to assess the micronutrient status of apple orchards around Quetta valley through soil and plant analysis. sixty soil samples were secured from five different sites at 0-15, 15-30, 30-45, 45-60, 60- 75 and 75-90 cm depths. The soil samples were analyzed for same physicochemical properties including AB-DTPA extractable micronutrient (Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn). At the same time forty apple trees were selected for leave samples and analyzed for the same micronutrient. The analytical data showed that sandy clay loam and clay loam were most common textural classes in all the soil layers. In all 37 percent samples were sandy clay loam to loam and 6-3 percent. were silty clay, clay loam and clay in texture. Salinity situation revealed that 82 percent soil samples were non-saline and 18 percent samples were slightly saline. The soils were alkaline-in reaction (pH 7.16 to 8.45) at all the soil depths. On the basis of alkalinity severness 78 percent samples were moderately and 22 percent were strongly alkaline. The data revealed that soils were mostly poor to medium (0.31- 1.29 percent) in organic matter at sub- surface layer while in Surface layer (0-15 and 15-30 cm), organic matter percentage was medium to high (0-49-2-96%) 5. The soil analysis for Time content, showed that the soils were highly calcareous in nature containing 17- 49 percent. The analysis of sails for AP-DTPA extractable copper showed that soils of apple orchard were sufficient at surface and subsurface layers and ranged from 0.51 to 4.28 mg/kg and its average value was 2.10 mg/kg. The Manganese content was sufficient at all the soil depths and ranged between 2.27 to 36.8 with average value as 8.40 mg/kg. Similarly, the Iron concentration was also sufficient to medium at all soil depths and ranged between 4.21 to 38.74 mg/kg and the mean value was 9,18 mg/kg. The Zinc concentration was found decreasing with soil depth and it. ranged from 0.42 to 8.04 mg/kg with average value as 1.61 mg/kg. In all 38 percent, soil samples were high, 22 percent medium and 40, percent soil samples were low in zinc content at various, depths. The analysis of plant samples showed that Manganese, Iron and Zinc were adequate in all plant samples. However, 35 percent plant samples were deficient in Cu content.
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