Behavior of various rootstock strains of Rough lemon and Rangpur lime on leaf nutrient composition and its effect on growth and yield of Nagpur mandarin

An influence of 5 strains of Rough lemon (C. jambhiri Lush) and 11 strains of Rangpur lime (C. limonia Osbeck) rootstock on leaf nutrient composition and growth performance of Nagpur mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) was studied during 1997–2001 under central Indian condition. Three years pooled average data on nutrient uptake during pre-bearing period showed significant variation as N (1.71 - 2.04%), P (0.062 - 0.127%), K (1.20 - 1.48%), Ca (2.50 - 3.07%), Fe (130.6 - 200.7 ppm), Mn (148.0 160.4 ppm) and Cu (8.5 - 10.3 ppm); while non-significant variation in Mg (0.43 - 0.60%) and Zn (13.2 - 15.2 ppm). Nagpur mandarin plants grown on Rough lemon (Assam) rootstock showed weak nutrient accumulating behaviour and recorded lowest uptake of P, Ca, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu which supported good vegetative growth and low fruit yield. While plants on Rangpur lime (Souranthan) recorded higher uptake of all the nutrients with higher vegetative growth and fruit yield. Plants grown on Rangpur lime (Shrirampur) recorded highest uptake of Fe and Mn, while N and Ca in Rangpur lime (7247). Similarly highest uptake of P, K, Zn and Cu was recorded in the plants grown on Rangpur lime (Souranthan), Rough lemon (Assam), Rough lemon (South Africa) and Rangpur lime (USA), respectively. Phosphorus uptake by different rootstocks showed positive and significant correlation with fruit yield, while uptake pattern of all other nutrients showed non-significant correlation with plant growth or fruit yield.