Soil and plant nutrient norms for sweet orange in black soils of vidarbha

The present investigation was carried out during the year 2022-2023 to study the soil and leaf nutrient status for sweet orange in black soils of Saoner and Kalmeshwar area of Nagpur district. 40 different soils (0-30 cm) and plants samples with aged of orchard between 6 to 8 years old were selected for the study of DRIS norms. Results of pH, EC, OC and CaCO3 varied from 7.2 to 8.1, 0.102 to 0.257 dS m-1, 4.4 to 5.9 g kg-1, 2.3 to 4.8 per cent, respectively. Yield data of selected sweet orange orchards were ranged from 12.6 to 28.9 t ha-1 and fruit acidity and TSS ranged between 0.35 to 0.51 and 8.2 to 10.5 per cent, respectively. DRIS-based analysis predicted the optimum values of available nutrients N, P and K in soil as 312.4 to 336.1, 19.9 to 30.4, and 414.14 to 429.45 kg ha-1, respectively. The adequate range of available sulphur and micronutrients Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were determined in the range of 8.6 to 17.9, 3.69 to 5.35, 5.45 to 9.39, 0.76 to 0.97 and 0.35 to 1.41 mg kg-1, respectively. Based on DRIS norms, the adequate range of leaf nutrients N, P, K and S were obtained in the range of 1.98 to 2.85, 0.10 to 0.35, 1.39 to 1.83, and 0.28 to 0.39 per cent, respectively and adequate range of Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were obtained in the range of 82.8 to 122.4, 48.5 to 80.1, 12.3 to 25.4 and 7.1 to 9.8 mg kg-1, respectively.