Orchard Management (1+1)

SUPPLYING NUTRIENTS

Supplying nutrients:

• Calcium and phosphate move very slowly downwards in soils. If there is a shortage of one of these elements, especially in the subsoil, it should be incorporated into the soil during soil preparation because there will not be a chance to plough it in afterwards.
• If it is necessary to rip the soil, lime should be ploughed in beforehand.

Banana:

• Banana is one of the few fruits which have a restricted root system; therefore depth and drainage are the two most important considerations for its cultivation.
• Deep rich loamy soil with pH 6-7.5 is the most preferred for banana cultivation.
• Poorly drained and nutritionally deficient soils are not suitable for banana.
• Saline soil and calcareous soils are also not suitable for banana cultivation, as wilt diseases in such soils are common.
• A soil that is not too acidic and not too alkaline, rich in organic material with nitrogen content, adequate phosphorus level and plenty of potash are good for banana.
• Banana production also suffers from inter-linked soil-borne pest and fertility constraints. Critical banana production problems include the banana weevil, banana nematodes, soil nutrient deficiencies, nutrient cycling and retention of adequate soil moisture. These problems cannot be managed independently. T
• he banana weevil and nematodes attack the root and vascular system, interfering with nutrient uptake and preventing the plant from utilizing soil amendments. Their combined attack result in smaller plants, lower yields and shortened plantation life.
• Nutrient deficiencies or imbalances may also leave the plant more vulnerable to pest attack. Thus strategies should be to integrate pest and soil fertility management.
• Soil fertility can be improved by the addition of organic and inorganic fertilizers, as per requirement ascertained by leaf analysis.
• Soil acidity can be overcome by lime application, as per recommended on soil pH status basis.
• In alkaline soils, prevalence of iron deficiency identified by in alkaline soils by interveinal chlorosis of young leaves and zinc deficiency by bunchy top can be corrected by foliar sprays of iron sulphate and zinc sulphate, respectively.

Guava:

• Guava trees can be grown in all type of soils provided if at least top soils are rich but cannot tolerate water logging. Soils that are either too acidic with pH < 4.5 or alkaline with pH > 8.2 are not suitable.
• Production and productivity of guava is significantly affected by nutrients and water. Because fruits are borne on the current season’s growth, adequate manuring and fertilization should be practiced to encourage vegetative growth and fruiting. A sampling of two month old pair of leaves on fruiting terminal is appropriate for nutrient diagnosis.
• Guava wilt, a major fungal disease of guava is more severe in alkaline soil. Apart from the use of fungicides, amendment of soil pH with the incorporation of Gypsum (sodium sulphate) in the soil may be beneficial. This will also be helpful for combating soil salinity problem.

Plantation crops:

Tea (Camellia sp.):

• It is a calcifuge crop requiring comparatively low amount of calcium but high quantities of potassium and silicon. It can be grown in lateritic, alluvial and peaty soils. Optimum pH range in 4.5 to 5.0 and soil depth should be 1.0 to 1.5 m.
• In the hill soil due to the leaching of bases by rain and also the incessant application of acid forming fertilizers, the soil pH is often reduced which affects the physical and chemical properties of soil (Plate 14.1). Therefore, periodic application of lime is essential to amend the soil and maintain the optimum pH.
• Agriculture lime (calcium carbonate) and dolomite lime (calcium magnesium carbonate) are generally recommended for tea soils.
• The rate of application is based on soil pH, rainfall, fertilizer usage and length of the pruning cycle. Approximately, lime @ 1.5mt/ha for a pH range of 4.5 to 4.9, 3.0mt/ha for a pH between 4.0 to 4.4 and 4.0mt/ha for a pH less than 4.0 is suggested.

Plate 14.1. Tea cultivation on slopes

• Lime is applied by evenly broadcasting prior to pruning cycle.
• First manuring can be applied 6 weeks after liming and a minimum of 15 cm rainfall should have been received during this period.
• Zinc deficiency is often observed in young shoots characterized by reduced leaf size, resetting, and choruses. It can be corrected by soil application of zinc sulphate @ 6 to 8 kg/ha for high yielding gardens every year. The above quantity can be given in 4 to 5 split doses during the high cropping months i.e. during April/May and September/October.

Coffee (Coffea Arabica L. and C. Canephora Linden):

• The heavy rainfall in coffee growing region of south India bring about leaching losses of calcium and magnesium leading to soil acidity. Besides, continuous use of acid forming fertilizers like ammonium sulphate also makes the soil acidic.
• As the ill effect of soil acidity are more, periodic application of lime is essential to raise soil pH for higher productivity. The quantity of lime to be added to the soil depends upon soil pH. It is desirable to apply lime when there is sufficient moisture in the soil for quick response.
• Liming may be applied during May-June and November-February in the south-West monsoon area and January to March and June-July in North-East monsoon areas. It is applied between the coffee plants rows and then mixed into the soil with digging or forking.