Response of phosphorous and potassium fertilizer levels on soil, leaf and fruit nutrient status of Gala Mast/MM106 apple under high density plantings

Present study was conducted at the experimental field of Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar Campus on five years old Gala Mast apple raised on MM106 to study the effect of phosphorous and potassium fertilizers on leaf and soil nutrient status of Gala Mast apple. Sixteen treatment combinations with factorial arrangement consisting of four levels each of phosphorous (25 g, 50 g, 75 g and 100 g/tree) and potassium (150 g, 200 g, 250 g and 300 g/tree) were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Observations recorded revealed that nutrient status of soil, leaf and fruit were significantly influenced with the application of phosphorous and potassium. Application of 100 g phosphorous per tree registered maximum available phosphorous (23.29 kg/ha) content in soil, maximum nitrogen content in leaf(2.30%) and fruit (0.47%), phosphorous content in leaf (0.268%) and fruit (0.114%), potassium content in leaf (1.56%) and fruit (0.83%) and calcium content in leaf (1.54%) and fruit (0.035%). Application of higher level of potassium (300 g/tree) recorded maximum available potassium (244.35 kg/ha) content in soil, leaf (1.67%) and fruit (0.88%) whereas application of minimum level of potassium (100 g/tree) recorded maximum leaf (1.58%) and fruit (0.038%) calcium content. However nonsignificant influence was observed on available soil nitrogen, calcium and boron, leaf and fruit boron content using phosphatic and potassic fertilizers. Therefore, it can be concluded that application of phosphorous @ 100 g/tree in combination with potassium @ 300 g/tree was proved to be most economical and effective in improving the overall nutrient status of soil, leaf and fruit of apple.