Soil and leaf nutritional constraints in major pomegranate growing states of India

Pomegranate orchards grown under hot, semi-arid to arid tropical climates were surveyed to diagnose nutrient constraints through soil and leaf analysis. A total of 347 pomegranate orchards covering an area of about 60,000 ha were surveyed in major pomegranate growing areas of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh state from 2007 to 2013. Physico-chemical analysis of the soil samples revealed that most of the pomegranate cultivation is on shallow and light-textured soils having pH (< 8.9), EC (< 1.86dS/m), and CaCO3 (< 10% in majority orchards) which is within the tolerable limit for pomegranate cultivation. Soil, as well as leaf nutrient status, indicated that P was the most limiting nutrient, followed by N while K and Ca was in sufficient quantity. Micronutrient constraints through foliar analysis revealed that Fe content was an insufficient range in almost all the orchards despite its low availability in the soils. Similarly, leaf Cu content was very low in the majority of orchards despite its availability in the soil in excess range. Zinc content in the leaves was in sufficient quantity in all the orchards located in all the states. The nutrients should be applied in a balanced ratio ensuring periodical application of organics to maintain soil health.

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