Nutrients Status of Citrus Orchards of District Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Citrus is important and leading fruit crops across Pakistan now facing the decline qualitatively and quantitatively which directly affecting the total production per unit area. The major reason for these changes seems to be improper fertilization of nutrients. In this regard, an experiment has been conducted on the citrus orchards of district Multan, to evaluate the present condition of nutrients in soil and citrus plants. The relationship between soil properties, available nutrients in soil, and plants were also investigated. In 24 orchards, the soil samples at three different soil depths (0-15cm, 15-30cm, 30-45 cm) with 4–6-month-old leaves of the plant were collected. In soils, the N (100%), P (50%), B (70.83%), Fe (16.67%) and Zn (33.33%) were deficient at upper soil layer (0-15cm). The deficiency of these nutrients decreases with increasing soil depth. The leaf analysis of citrus plants showed that there was a deficiency of N (70.83%), P (66.66%), K (12.5%), Zn (66.6%) and B (50%). Among soil properties, the pH is negatively and significantly related to N, P, Fe, and Mn, while CaCO3 and EC showed a negatively significant correlation to P and B respectively at upper soil layer. Organic matter was positive and significantly related to P and Cu at upper soil layer. The significant correlation between soil properties and nutrients decreases with increasing soil depth. The K and Fe in the soil are directly associated with increasing its contents in the leaf.