Association between Soil and Plant Nutrients in Pomegranate Productivity in Northern Karnataka, India

Pomegranate productivity and quality necessitate the optimum nutrient supply and for this, soil nutrient status and leaf nutrient concentration are very much required. Concerning this, a survey study was conducted to analyse the soil and plant nutrient status of 150 pomegranate orchards of northern Karnataka. Soil pH, EC, OC, available nutrients (K, P, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu), exchangeable calcium and magnesium, and corresponding leaf nutrient concentrations were analysed in orchards. The high yielding orchards with yield greater than mean productivity of Karnataka (11.71 t ha-1) were further categorized as category 1 (12.32-13.61 t ha-1), category 2 (14.32-22.64 t ha-1) and category 3 (22.84-25.63 t ha-1). The availability of soil nutrients viz., K, S, and Mn content were higher in category- 3 HYO whereas, available N, exchangeable Ca & Mg and Cu content were higher in category 1. Similarly, total P, K, S & Fe content in pomegranate leaf was higher in category 3 while leaf N, Ca, Mg & Cu content were found high in category 1 and category 2. These can be the basis for the application of the optimum dose of fertilizers.