Plant nutrients survey on tomato, cabbage, ccumber and onion

Survey was conducted on tomato at Dhodeni, Lungdi, Yampa and Dhanubase (Nepal), on cabbage at Kudule, Dhodeni/Pharse and Yampa (Nepal), on cucumber at Kudule, Khawara and Kholakhet (Nepal) and on onion at Kholakhet in the western hills of Nepal during 1997 summer season. The objective of this survey was to find out soil and plant nutrient status of important vegetables. Information on cultivation practices adopted by the farmers were collected by interviewing randomly selected 8 farmers of each crop from each site. Composite plant samples (young leaves from cucumber, tomato, head part from cabbage and whole plant of onion) and soil samples also were collected. These samples had been analysed for nutrient content. In tomato, soils were slightly acidic to neutral with high to medium available P, medium to low exchangeable K and low organic matter, total nitrogen and boron. Nitrogen content in plant was not different in different sites but P was higher at Dhodeni and K was higher at Dhanubase. Potassium content in plant was decreased with increasing plant age. In cabbage, soils were neutral to acidic with medium to high available P, medium exchangeable K and low organic matter, total nitrogen and available B. Nutrient uptake by cabbage was higher in Dhodeni/Pharse and Kudule than Yampa. Plant over seven month had low N content. Each of N, P and K applications increased P and K uptake in the plant. In cucumber, soils were strongly acidic to slightly acidic with high to low exchangeable K, high available P and low organic matter, total nitrogen and available boron in all sites. Higher uptake of P was observed at Kholakhet and Lower uptake of K at Khawara. Nitrogen uptake was not affected by age but P and K content decreased as the plant become older. Available P increased its uptake. In onion soils were acidic having low organic matter, total nitrogen, exchangeable K and available B and high available P.