Health and available nutrient status of plum orchard soil under integrated nutrient management

The present investigation was carried out at Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Horticultural Research Station, Kandaghat, Solan, HP for two successive years 2010–11 and 2011–12 on plum cv Santa Rosa to find out the effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on soil health and nutrient status. Among the eight treatments fully organic, INM and fully inorganic treatments comprised of the application of chemical fertilizers (urea, SSP and MOP), FYM, vermicompost, biofertilizers (Azotobacter, PSB and VAM) and green manure (sunhemp). Results revealed that the treatment T₅ (75% NPK + biofertilizers (60 g each/tree basin) + green manuring (sunhemp @ 25 g seeds/tree basin) performed best for PSB count, soil N and P. The maximum soil Azotobacter and AMF count, soil K and Cu content were obtained with the treatment T₇ (50% NPK + biofertilizers (60 g each/tree basin) + green manuring (sunhemp @ 25 g seeds/tree basin) + FYM (40 kg) + vermicompost (11.5 kg). The treatment T₂ (biofertilizers (60 g each/tree basin) + green manuring (sunhemp @ 25 g seeds/tree basin) + FYM (40 kg) + vermicompost (24 kg) recorded maximum soil water holding capacity, pH, organic carbon, soil Mg and Zn content. Based on the performance of these treatments it can be advocated that INM plays an important role in improving soil health and fertility.