Integrated nutrient management and mulching for higher productivity of spur type apple (Malus domestica) cultivars

Abstract

Integrated nutrient combination comprising NPK sources from organic manures (FYM and vermicompost) and inorganic sources along with mulching (leaf mould and black polyethylene) were applied on apple (Malus domestica Borkh) cv. Starkrimson planted on high density system. The objective was to supplement NPK requirement by applying sufficient quantity of organic manures, thereby, minimizing the inorganic fertilizer requirement. Better result was obtained in treatment comprising leaf mould mulch and integrated nutrients: 50 kg/tree FYM + 10 kg/tree vermicompost + 50 g/tree N + 75 g/tree P₂O₅ + 250 g/tree K₂O in 5^th year; 60 kg/tree FYM + 13 kg/tree vermicompost + 30 g/tree N + 80 g/tree P₂O₅ + 225 g/tree K₂O in 6^th year; 70 kg/tree FYM + 16 kg/tree vermicompost + 10 g/tree N + 85 g/tree P₂O₅ + 250 g/tree K₂O in 7^th year and 70 kg/tree FYM + 19 kg/tree vermicompost + 165 g/tree N + 178 g/tree P₂O₅ + 548 g/tree K₂O in both 8^th and 9^th year. In the 8^th and 9^th year, this treatment resulted comparatively higher fruit yield (31.8 and 30.6 kg/tree, respectively) and productivity (50.8 and 53.3 MT/ha, respectively) with fruit weight 200.4 and 202.4 g and diameter 8.4 and 8.2 cm, respectively. Whereas, in recommended dose, in 8^th and 9^th year, 27.6 and 25.6 kg/tree yield and 44.2 and 40.9 MT/ha productivity were recorded, respectively. Reduction of FYM quantity by 50% and increasing the vermicompost dose also supplemented considerable amount of NPK requirement from inorganic sources and resulted better plant growth and yield.