Micronutrients status and management in orchards soils: applied aspects

Average yields of our orchards (9 tones ha -1 ) are much less when compared with the world average of 25 tones ha -1 , which is mainly blamed to imbalance fertilization. Technical Services Wing of Fauji Fertilizer Company is the pioneer one in fertilizer sector, which is providing macronutrients as well as micronutrients analysis and recommendations facilities to farming community throughout the country absolutely free of cost. During a period of seven months, 329 soil samples of various depths collected throughout Pakistan from citrus, mango, guava, banana and apple orchards were analyzed for available iron, copper, manganese, born and zinc status. The results reveal a wide spread deficiency of zinc, boron, followed by iron throughout the country while the deficiencies of copper and manganese have also been observed occasionally. Due to restricted mobility of iron, zinc and boron in plant tissues and keeping in view plant physiology, the authors are of the view that as orchard crops try to accumulate maximum amounts of essential nutrients before flower formation so micronutrients foliar sprays should be made preferably after fruit harvest and before flower formation in addition to recommended deficiency doses already applied through soil. To make up the deficiencies, various management strategies and future options have been discussed in detail in this paper.

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