Studies on relationship between fruit yield and quality with soil and leaf nutrient content in apple orchards of Zangier block of district Baramulla Kashmir

Soil samples from twenty orchards of Zangier block were collected from various depths and analysed for various physico-chemical properties and nutrient status. Leaf and fruit samples were also collected from the same orchards and analysed for nutrient content, fruit mineral composition, quality parameters and yield. The soils were medium to fine textured having slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH, normal EC, CEC, CaCO3 and high OC. The soils were medium to high in available N&K respectively, high in available P, Ca and Mg. All available nutrients showed significant differences in these orchards. The pH exhibited significant and negative correlation with N & P in surface and sub-surface soils and significant and positive correlation with Ca in surface soils. OC exhibited significant and positive correlation with available N in surface and sub-surface soils and with available P in surface soils only. Clay showed significant and positive correlation with K only. The N, P and Mg contents of the leaves were found to be sufficient where as 30 and 70 percent orchards were low in K and Ca, respectively. Leaf N & P showed significant and positive correlation with soil N and P in surface and sub-surface soils. K, Ca & Mg did not show any relationship with the available nutrients. Soil nitrogen exhibited negative and significant correlation with leaf K and Ca. The physical qualities of fruit viz. length, diameter, size volume, firmness, specific gravity and colour intensity showed significant differences in these orchards. Fruit yield ranged from 9.45 to 10.23 tonnes ha-1 with the mean value of 9.82 tonnes ha-1. The chemical qualities of fruit like TSS, total sugars, percent acidity and anthocyanin showed significant variations. The contents of fruit N,P,K,Ca and Mg ranged from 0.33 to 0.46, 0.073 to 0.122, 0.87 to 1.07, 0.24 to 0.38, 0.029 to 0.035 percent, respectively. A positive and significant correlation was shown by leaf N with fruit length, diameter, size, weight and volume respectively and significant negative relationship with specific gravity and firmness. Leaf K and Ca revealed significant and positive correlation with fruit firmness, TSS and total sugars. Available-K also showed significant positive correlation with total sugars. Leaf N exhibited significant and negative correlation with TSS and total sugars. Leaf K and Ca exhibited significant and negative correlation with fruit acidity and significant and positive correlation was observed between leaf N and percent acidity. Significant and positive correlation existed between yield and soil N and Ca and leaf N and P. Anthocyanin exhibited a positive relationship with leaf K and Ca and a negative relationship with leaf nitrogen. From the foregoing summarized results of investigation it is concluded that soil analysis of all the orchards revealed that by and large all the orchards were adequately supplied with N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The leaf analysis indicated that N, P & Mg contents were optimum while as, 30 and 70 percent samples were low in K and Ca respectively. The present investigation though first of its kind is expected to be useful for horticulturists for formulation of further research and development programmes. Maintaining leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg percent in dry weight basis in leaf can yield quality fruit. Leaf N content should be maintained between 1.96 to 2.1 percent on dry weight basis for production of quality fruit