Effect of crop load on leaf and fruit nutrient status in apple cv. Gala Redlum

The present investigation on effect of crop load on leaf and fruit nutrient status in apple cv. Gala Redlum was carried out at experimental field of Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir during the year 2021-2022. The experiment was carried out in RCBD with three replications on 4-year-old “Gala Redlum” plants grafted on M9 rootstock in a high density orcharding system, which were hand thinned to C2:4; C3: 6; C4: 8; C5:10 fruits per cm² of TCSA and no thinning as C1: control. The results obtained revealed that the maximum leaf N (2.492 %), leaf P ( 0.277 % ), leaf K (1.605 % ), leaf Ca ( 15466.60 ppm ) and fruit N (0.322 % ), fruit P (0.192 % ), fruit K (0.945 % ) was obtained from C₂ (4 fruits per cm² of TCSA). On the basis of TCSA, maximum leaf N (2.236 %), leaf P (0.232 %), leaf K (1.395 %), leaf Ca (13933.33ppm), fruit N (0.288 %), fruit P (0.144 %), fruit K (0.883 %) was recorded under S₂ (10-12 cm² TCSA). Moreover, maximum leaf N (2.507 %), leaf P (0.287 %), leaf K (1.610 %) leaf Ca (15866.66 ppm), fruit N (0.327 %), fruit P (0.197 %), fruit K (0.950 %) were recorded under C₂S₂ followed by C₃S₂ treatment combination. Maximum fruit Ca (10866.66ppm) was recorded under C₁S₁ treatment combination. Results of the present study revealed that thinning of Gala Redlum apples is very important not only for ensuring the optimum nutritional status of the plant but also for a good quality yield in the current year and subsequently a good return bloom in the next year. Furthermore, the data from the present study suggests that a threshold for optimal fruit quality and consistent bloom was obtained around 6 fruits/ cm² of TCSA.