Abstract
Abstract All plant essential nutrients except Molybdenum are not easily available in alkaline calcareous soils. Among them, the deficiency of micronutrients particularly Zinc and iron is widespread in crops and fruit orchards. For this purpose, a survey study was carried out across five districts of Balochistan viz Kalat, Killa Abdullah, Pishin, Quetta and Ziarat during 2016 aiming to determine both soil and leaf Zn status of apple orchards. The 150 soil and leaf samples were collected and statistically divided them as 30 samples of each district in 3 groups of 10 samples and analysed through one way analysis of variance. The results showed that soil pH of apple orchards was in alkaline range and EC was almost normal with statistically at par differences. While, the AB-DTPA extractable Zn in soil of various apple orchards across five districts revealed that 5, 23 and 2 orchards in Kalat, 3, 24 and 3 in Killa Abdullah, 15 15 and 0.0 in Pishin and Ziarat while 20, 10 and 0.0 in Quetta expressed low, marginal and adequate Zn concentration. The leaf tissue analysis for Zn status indicated that 23.3% apple orchards in Kalat, 6.7% in Killa Abdullah, 33.3% in Pishin, 73.3% in Quetta and 56.7% in district Ziarat were found Zn deficient. Consequently, this study suggest that Zinc supplementation to soil of these orchards are needed while the addition of compost under such alkaline soil also necessary and is considered as one of the best management practices for apple orchards. Keywords: Apple orchards; Leaf Zn concentration; Locations; Soil Zn concentration http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2019.80034
Highlights
Killa Abdullah, Pishin, Quetta and Ziarat during 2016 aiming to determine both soil and leaf Zn status of apple orchards
This study suggest that Zinc supplementation to soil of these orchards are needed while the addition of compost under such alkaline soil necessary and is considered as one of the best management practices for apple orchards
In Pakistan including the province of Balochistan, the reasons of low soil Zn status in orchards is linked to calcareous and alkaline nature of soil with low organic matter and in some cases the light soil texture is responsible for Zn deficiency
Summary
Pasteur viz Raulin first time described Zn soils [2]. In calcareous soil, the deficiency of requirement as nutrient for the prosper of micronutrients Zn is prevalent fungi (Aspergillus niger) causing diseases in among all agriculturally important crops many agricultural crops like black mold since the unavailability of Zn in such soil is Published by Bolan Society for Pure and Applied Biology due to its adsorption on clay and calcite, low Zn in the parent material, alkaline nature (high pH), high calcium carbonate contents, high or low soil organic matter. In case of AB-DTPA extractable soil Zn, the overall Zn concentration in apple orchard soils of Kalat district was ranged from 46.5 to 132.5 mg kg-1, Killah Abdullah from 48.5 to 133.8 mg kg-1, Pishin from 29.4 to 98.3 mg kg-1, Quetta from 24.4 to 97.6 mg kg-1 and Ziarat was from 25.5 to 116.0 mg kg-1 respectively. The leaf tissue Zn concentration of apple orchards in five districts are given in (Table 2) revealed that the overall mean of Zn concentration of 30 apple orchards in district Kalat was ranged from 14.6 to 85.1 mg kg-1, Killa Abdullah from 17.6 to 112.2 mg kg-1, Pishin from 11.7 to 120.1 mg kg-1, Quetta from 5.6 to 39.3 mg kg-1 and Ziarat from 5.0 to 55.2 mg kg-1 respectively. The result regarding soil pH, ECe and AB-DTPA extractable Zn as given in (Table 1) showed that statistically pH values were at par in all ten locations of district Kalat, Killa Abdullah, Pishin, Quetta and Ziarat. In surveillance study of fruit orchards for micronutrients conducted by Tariq et al [35] in Peshawar valley reported deficiencies of micronutrients in various orchards reflecting iron by 45%, Cu 13%, Mn 2% and Zn 17%
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
