Studies on the effect of orchard floor management practices on quality parameters and leaf nutrient status in apricot (Prunus armeniacaL.) cv. New Castle

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Department of Pomology,Dr. Y. S. Parmar Univetsity of Horticulture and Foresty Nauni, Solan (H.P.) to study the effect of different orchard floor management practices on apricot fruit quality and leaf nutrient status. The application of grass mulch improved physico-chemical parameters of apricot fruits (fruit weight, fruit size, TSS, total sugars, reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, soluble proteins, total phenols and carotenoids) of apricot fruits as compared to all other treatments. Among the different orchard floor management practices the treatment of grass mulch increased the leaf macro (N,P,K and Mg) and micro (Fe,Cu,Zn and B) nutrient contents but the effect on Ca and Mn was found to be non-significant.