*Division of Pomology, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shalimar, Srinagar-191 121.
Department of Horticulture, Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana-141 004
One year old patharnakh pear plant budded either to root sucker or to Kainth were subjected to nutrient solution in sand culture with varying potassium levels. The foliar K increased significantly with increase in potassium level in the nutrient solution. However, when K level was increased a decrease in foliar Ca level was obtained. Foliar P and Mg concentration increased with high K levels. A highly significant positive correlation of r= 0.87 was observed at initiation of visual symptom development (IVDD) and acute visual symptom development (AVSD) stages between foliar K and nitrogen content. The critical foliar K level below which IVSD and AVSD development took place was found to be 0.50 and 0.46% respectively. Correlation studies between foliar Ca with foliar K indicated a negative correlation (r= - 0.39) at IVSD and significantly high negative corrleation (r= - 0.85) at AVSD stages. Correlation studies of foliar P and Mg showed a positive correlation with foliar K at both the stages of sampling, however, with lower values in case of foliar Mg.
