Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology 39(17): 93-102, 2020; Article no.CJAST.56546 ISSN: 2457-1024 (Past name: British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, Past ISSN: 2231-0843, NLM ID: 101664541) Soil Characterization, Leaf Nutritional Status and Fruit Quality of Acid Lime Orchards in Patur Block of Akola District, Maharashtra Priya S. Gadge1, S. N. Ingle1*, M. M. Raut1, N. M. Konde1, D. V. Mali1, N. R. Dange1 and D. N. Nalge1 1Department of Soil Science and Agrilcultural Chemistry, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola - 444104, India. Authors’ contributions This work was carried out in collaboration among all authors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Article Information DOI: 10.9734/CJAST/2020/v39i1730757 Editor(s): (1) Dr. Nhamo Nhamo, Zimbabwe Open University, Zimbabwe. Reviewers: (1) Mercy Ijenyo, Dalhousie University, Canada. (2) Liliane Catone Soares, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Brazil. Complete Peer review History: http://www.sdiarticle4.com/review-history/56546 Received 10 April 2020 Original Research Article Accepted 14 June 2020 Published 02 July 2020 ABSTRACT The present investigation on “Soil characterization, leaf nutritional status and fruit quality of Acid Lime orchards in Patur block of Akola district” was undertaken during the year 2018-19. Twenty healthy lime orchards were selected on the basis of their yield performance and visual observations from five locations of Patur block viz., Wadegaon, Sasti, Patur, Mazod and Goregaon. The study was framed to evaluate the soil characteristics, leaf nutritional status and fruit quality of Acid Lime. Twenty soil samples were collected from 0-30 and 30-60 cm depth in randomly selected acid lime orchards. Similarly, the leaf and fruit samples were collected and analyzed for quality parameters. The results indicated that, the soil reaction was neutral to slightly alkaline with pH value varied from 7.35 to 8.14, EC ranges from 0.23 to 0.32 dS m-1 indicating the non-saline nature of these soils. Free calcium carbonate varied from 5.63 to 9.42%, Organic carbon showed decreasing trend with soil depth and having medium to moderately high in organic carbon. The available nitrogen was found to be low to medium, phosphorus was low, potassium was high to very high and sulphur was low to moderate. The DTPA extractable micronutrients in soil were moderately high in zinc, iron, _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; Gadge et al.; CJAST, 39(17): 93-102, 2020; Article no.CJAST.56546 copper and manganese. The leaf nutrient status was found to be low to optimum in total nitrogen, phosphorus and micronutrient and optimum to high in potassium. Fruits of acid lime were found to be of good quality. Since, the correlations obtained in the present studies did not show any consistent trend. Keywords: Soil characterization; acid lime; Patur; leaf nutrient. 1. INTRODUCTION undeniable utility [6]. Maintaining orchards with trees at optimal leaf nutrient concentrations is Acid lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) is the third one of the key issues for maximizing yields important citrus fruit crop in India next to [7]. mandarin and sweet orange and it is native of India and belongs to Rutaceae family. It is The soils of Patur bock of Akola district are generally grown under both tropical and moderately shallow to deep black categorised subtropical climatic conditions in the plains and under Vertisols, have major problems of poor up to above 1200 m MSL. Citrus is globally one hydraulic conductivity, high degree of swell- of the leading fruit crop with a total production of shrink potential, compact and dense soil fabric. 112.8 million tonnes (Mt), the maximum While considering the importance of plant production 32.6 Mt is noted in Asia, followed by nutrition in determining production and quality of 25.8 Mt in South America [1]. Brazil tops the list acid lime and lack of information regarding the with a total production of 19.9 Mt, followed by optimum range of nutrients in soil, particularly for USA and India (Srivastava and Singh, 2008). maintaining the yield potential of quality fruits of The highest global citrus production comes from acid lime, the present investigation has been soils represented by order Alfisol, Ultisols, attempted. Entisols and Inceptisol [2,3,4]. In India, citrus is grown on 5.63 lakh hectare area with a total 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS production of 56.8 lakh tonnes and productivity 10.1 tonnes/ha [5]. The study area of present investigation lies between 20026’60.00” North Latitude and to Citrus is considered as highly nutrient responsive 76055’48.00” East with an area of 737.09 square crop. Nutrient responsiveness of citrus is Km in Akola district of Maharashtra. The location evaluated through nutrient diagnosis based on map of the study area is given in Fig. 1. The leaf analysis, soil analysis, juice analysis, investigation area is lies in subtropical region, dry enzyme function and deficiency symptoms. Out sub-humid with ustic soil moisture regime and of these, deficiency symptom is mostly used, hyperthemic soil temperature regime. The although with minimum practical implications on average rainfall is 718 mm which is received the orchard performance. Relying solely on mostly from south-west monsoon. The 20 acid deficiency symptoms will be too late for timely lime orchards were selected for the present diagnosis of nutrient constraints unless study. The soil samples in all the twenty orchards complemented with both leaf and soil analysis were collected from the depth of 0-30 and 30-60 data. Occurrence of multiple nutrient deficiencies cm. The analysis of collected soil samples was makes the redressal of such nutrient deficiencies carried out using standard procedures [8,9,10] is very complex exercise. Site specific nutrient Similarly About 50 leaves from 4-7 month old management studies find a greater weightage flush from non-fruiting terminals, preferably 2nd, over the conventional fertilization response 3rd and 4th leaf at the height of 1.5 – 1.8 m from studies. Simultaneously, use of integrated ground were collected randomly from all the side strategies viz., soil application of macronutrients of plants. [2]. The total analysis of leaf nutrient (NPKS) and foliar application of micronutrients properties of collected samples were carried out (Fe, Mn, Zn and B); fertigation and integrated using standard procedures [11,9,12]. While in nutrient management (INM) using rationale use Fruit analysis the physical and chemical of organic manures fortified with microbial properties were carried out using standard consortium. The integration of microbial cultures procedures by Lacey [13]. The coefficient of through isolation and characterization of native correlation between dependent and independent and dual purpose microbes and inorganic soil variables and the regression equations were fertilizers have produced encouraging responses worked out as per procedure described by to improve production dividends underlying their Gomez and Gomez [14]. 94 Gadge et al.; CJAST, 39(17): 93-102, 2020; Article no.CJAST.56546 Fig. 1. Location map of Patur block 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION carbonate content below 10 per cent is supposed to be safe for cultivation of lime [6]. Similar result 3.1 Chemical Properties of Soil were closely pointed out by Punekar et al. [17]. The organic carbon has a strong cascading The soil reaction was neutral to slightly alkaline effect on most of the soil physico-chemical with pH value varied from 7.35 to 8.41, presented properties [2]. The organic carbon content in in (Table 1). it slightly increased with depth and soils of healthy acid lime orchards varied from -1 varied from 7.53 to 8.14 at 30-60 cm depth. 4.4 to 6.8 g kg . Whereas, it has shown Electrical conductivity ranges from 0.23 to 0.32 decreasing trend with soil depth These soil dS m-1 indicating the non-saline nature of these profiles displayed a medium to moderate soil soils [11]. The free calcium carbonate varied organic carbon content, especially in their from 5.63 to 9.42 % which qualify them to class rhizosphere soil. The results were in conformity as moderately calcareous to calcareous. Calcium with the findings of Punekar et al. [17]. 95 Gadge et al.; CJAST, 39(17): 93-102, 2020; Article no.CJAST.56546 Table 1. Chemical properties of soils of acid lime orchards Sample No. Depth (cm) pH EC (dS m-1) CaCO3 (%) Org. C (g kg-1) Location : Wadegaon Orchard 1 0-30 7.89 0.258 7.65 5.3 30-60 7.92 0.274 8.28 4.4 Orchard 2 0-30 7.45 0.298 7.39 6.1 30-60 7.53 0.324 8.71 5.9 Orchard 3 0-30 8.01 0.274 7.96 5.6 30-60 8.12 0.302 8.54 4.2 Orchard 4 0-30 7.69 0.276 6.14 4.6 30-60 7.74 0.298 7.65 4.2 Location : Sasti Orchard 5 0-30 7.35 0.286 7.02 6.8 30-60 7.41 0.312 8.32 5.0 Orchard 6 0-30 8.08 0.234 6.01 5.4 30-60 8.14 0.248 7.35 4.4 Orchard 7 0-30 7.61 0.264 7.85 5.6 30-60 7.72 0.282 8.01 4.0 Orchard 8 0-30 7.63 0.278 8.96 4.6 30-60 7.78 0.298 9.42 4.0 Location : Patur Orchard 9 0-30 7.91 0.283 7.96 5.2 30-60 8.02 0.314 8.63 4.1 Orchard 10 0-30 7.84 0.267 7.12 4.8 30-60 7.97 0.282 8.51 4.1 Orchard 11 0-30 8.02 0.234 7.56 4.4 30-60 8.14 0.248 8.43 4.0 Orchard 12 0-30 7.58 0.291 6.12 5.1 30-60 7.62 0.321 7.03 4.6 Location : Mazod Orchard 13 0-30 8.01 0.261 7.26 5.3 30-60 8.10 0.278 8.31 4.5 Orchard 14 0-30 7.65 0.268 7.21 5.4 30-60 7.78 0.281 8.08 4.9 Orchard 15 0-30 8.01 0.288 6.69 5.1 30-60 8.08 0.311 7.42 4.9 Orchard 16 0-30 7.65 0.295 7.84 4.4 30-60 7.74 0.321 8.25 4.0 Location : Goregaon Orchard 17 0-30 7.58 0.257 7.22 4.8 30-60 7.63 0.271 8.67 4.1 Orchard 18 0-30 7.44 0.234 7.85 5.6 30-60 7.56 0.252 8.50 4.4 Orchard 19 0-30 8.00 0.287 5.63 4.8 30-60 8.12 0.302 6.45 4.2 Orchard 20 0-30 8.04 0.261 6.08 5.5 30-60 8.13 0.278 6.74 4.8 3.2 Soil Nutrient Status of Acid Lime indicated that, the available nitrogen content was Orchards decreasing with depth in all the soil profile.