Nutrient Management in Horticultural Crops

Fruits And Vegetablesd revised edition on soil, fertilizer and integrated Crop Nutrition published by FDCO. Horticultural Crops (fruits, Vegetables and flowers) arc grown on about c).5 million hectares in India. Their importance to the Income of grower farmers and the national Economy is much greater than their 6.5% share of the net cropped area.

Horticultural crops are heavy feeders of Plant nutrients. A number of crops may absorb 500-1,000 kg of N + P1O..+K1O/ha/year or even more under good management conditions. Fertilizer is a proven input for increasing crop productivity, crop quality and farm income. Fertiliser application is recommended for most Fruits and vegetables often along with Organic manures and appropriate biofertilisers in order to obtain high yields and produce of good quality.

Advice on the correct use of fertilisers is sought by all growers in order to maximize returns from Investment in these purchased inputs. In order to advise the growers, the extension, promotion, sales and advisory staff need ready access to Research based fertiliser recommendations. In this guidebook the authors have compiled, state-wise fertiliser Recommendations for fruit, Vegetable and flower plants.

Recommendations on fertilisers, organic manures and biofertilisers for both major and micro nutrients, preferred fertiliser types if any, and the recommended Times and methods of fertiliser application are given. Three background chapters have been provided on (i) the horticultural Scenario (ii) various plant nutrients and their sources and (iii) nutrient management in horticultural crops. These are followed by available crop wise and state-wise practical recommendations. Finally a list of references, list of improved crop varieties, sources of additional information and other commonly sought information such as on acronyms and conversion factors has been included.

The book contains information on about 100 horticultural crops and all plant nutrients as also on the mineral organic and biofertilisers. We hope that it will be useful to horticultural officers and advisors, horticulturists, consultants nurseries, field advisory staff of the industry and other organizations, Soil and plant testing laboratories, teachers, students, training centres, KVKs, dealers, and institutions financing horticulture.