Seven Nagpur mandarin orchards were selected in Kalmeshwar and Katol tahsils of Nagpur district to see the influence of CaCO3 on yield and quality parameters. The soils were medium to very deep, clay loam to clay in texture (>40%), high available water capacity (10.6 to 20.6%) and moderately well ddrained to somewhat poorly drained with HC (0.47 to 3.54 cm hr1). The pedons 4, 6 and 7 were classified as Vertisols and pedons 1 to3 and 5 as Inceptisols. The soils were moderate to strongly alkaline(7.2 to 8.6), non-saline, Ca was dominant cation followed by Mg, Na and K with CEC (41.5 to 57.8 cmol(p+) kg−1) and high base saturation (84 to 99%). The ESP and SAR found increased towards surface in some soils due to irrigation throughout the year and were responsible for low hydraulic conductivity along with COLE and WDC of soils. The soils are calcareous with high free CaCO3 content (2.1 to 26.6%) and carbonate clay (1.3 to 11.4%) was due to aridity of the climate which depletes the Ca2+ from soil. The high amount of clay, AWC and Exch. Ca were found responsible for development of Nagpur mandarin orchards orchards and showed significant relation with yield and quality parameters like juice and TSS, whereas, free CaCO3 and carbonate clay content showed negative significant correlation with them. The CaCO3 more than 15% and carbonate clay more than 6% along with poor drainage reduces the yield of mandarin by 50%. Therefore this study recommends that the soils with more than 15% CaCO3 and 6% carbonate clay are not suitable for mandarin cultivation.
Calcium Carbonate, Yield, Quality, Nagpur Mandarin
