Abstract
Abstract Mango orchards in Pakistan are deficient in soil micronutrients. Multan is one of the prime regions for mango production in Pakistan; therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the micronutrient status of mango orchards in the Multan region. Soil samples from four different depths (0–30, 30–60, 60–90, and 90–120 cm) and leaf samples were collected from thirteen different locations of Multan. Depth-wise variations in the micronutrient status and the levels of pH, EC, CEC, SOM, and CaCO3 were determined. All data collected from the field and laboratory work of mango orchards under study were analyzed statistically by applying the RCBD design. It was observed that pH and ECe of soil under study were significantly higher in upper depths when compared with lower depths whereas CaCO3 content was contrary to pH and EC as it was observed to be higher from the lower depth of the soil. Moreover, mango leaves from the majority of locations were deficient in total micronutrients due to poorly available micronutrients status of the soil. Thus, there is a serious need to improve the chemical properties of the soil, and the proper dose of micronutrients should be applied every season for sufficient supply throughout the growing cycle of mango in and around the Multan region.
Highlights
Pakistan is one of the best mango growing countries, which exports high-quality mango fruits globally
Locations L2, L4, L5, L6, L7, L9, and L11 exhibited that their pH was almost similar to each other but significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different from L1, L3, L8, L10, L12, and L13 in the Multan district for the first 30-cm depth
Data regarding locations of L1, L8, and L12 were found ideal with soil pH more suitable for better growth of mango
Summary
Pakistan is one of the best mango growing countries, which exports high-quality mango fruits globally. In Punjab, mango orchards mostly cover the soils of Multan and Bahawalpur districts, which contribute 52.4% of the mango production (Khan 2005). Multan district (Pakistan) is facing a severe deficiency of some mineral nutrients, which results in the low yield of mango fruit (Ahmad and Rashid 2003). Micronutrients are required for different physiological and metabolic processes, and their deficiency affects a number of processes including hindered plant growth, productivity, and quality (Berdanier and Berdanier 2015; Gurjar et al 2015; Souri and Aslani 2018a; Souri and Bakhtiarizade 2019). Zinc plays a role in enzymatic activities and confers high sugar contents to fruits
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