Diagnosis of nutrient imbalance by Diagnostic and Recommended Integrated System in pomegranate growing soils of south-western Maharashtra

Abstract

Diagnostic and Recommended Integrated System (DRIS) approach was employed to develop soil diagnostic norms of major, secondary and micronutrients for pomegranate cv. Bhagwa. For this purpose, pomegranate growing 150 orchards having Bhagwa variety of 4-to 6-year-old under drip irrigation with hasta bahar were selected from south western Maharashtra (Solapur, Satara and Sangli districts). The DRIS norms developed for soil nutrients along with DRIS indices and order of nutrient requirement in the selected orchards at bahar, 50 per cent flowering, fruit development and Ist harvesting stages of pomegranate are presented and discussed in this paper. The DRIS norms developed for very low, low, optimum, high and very high status of soil nutrients in pomegranate at various crop growth stages can serve as nutrient guide and diagnose the nutrient deficiency and excess or imbalance of nutrients. In this study, the DRIS indices indicated that calcium was the most needed plant nutrient by pomegranate at 50 per cent flowering, fruit development and even at Ist harvesting stage.