Nutrition of Fruit Crops

Nutrition is one of the most important aspects of fruit culture and accounts for thirty per cent of total cost of cultivation. However, in Indian fruit industry nutritional mis-management is among the major caused of low orchard efficiency resulting in poor productivity. It is not that we lack in knowledge and experience in nutritional management but it has not been presented in proper perspective to meet the requirement of clientele.

This book on ‘Nutrition of Fruit Crops” describes the importance and role of nutrient elements, problems of nutrition of tree crops, nutrient uptake, factors affecting their availability and diagnostic tools for monitoring nutrient use in first seven chapters. Remaining eighteen chapters (8 to 25) give detailed information for commercial fruit crops in terms of what to apply, how much to apply, where and how best to apply and finally the calendar of operations for nutrient use in various fruit growing regions of the country. This book is concise, and is based on Indian experience and timely too when development f horticultural is receiving priority attention in the present agricultural policy of the country with emphasis on crop diversification, value addition and export wherein nutrition taken a significant place for high quality produce. It will interest all those concerned with fruit production and acquisition of knowledge in nutrition of fruit crops.

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction and history. 2. Essential nutrient elements and their role in plants. 3. Survey of problems of nutrition in tree crops. 4. Soil as a medium of plant growth. 5. Nutrient uptake and transport. 6. Factors affecting the availability of nutrients. 7. Methods and techniques for evaluating nutrient requirement in fruit plants. 8. Nutrition of mango. 9. Nutrition of banana. 10. Nutrition of citrus fruits. 11. Nutrition of Guava. 12. Nutrition of grape. 13. Nutrition of apple. 14. Nutrition of pear. 15. Nutrition of Litchi. 16. Nutrition of Papaya. 17. Nutrition of pineapple. 18. Nutrition of pomegranate. 19. Nutrition of ber. 20. Nutrition of Sapota. 21. Nutrition of peach. 22. Nutrition of Aonla. 23. Nutrition of Datepalm. 24. Nutrition of other fruits. 25. Nutrient management calendar for fruit crops. Subject Index.