Shimla: Apple productivity is on the decline in India due to unbalanced nutrition management in many orchards. In several places per hectare, apple production has gone down in recent years. Dr. Upendra Sharma, a soil scientist at the Regional Horticulture Research and Training Center in Mashobra, part of Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Horticulture and Forestry University, Nauni, urged the apple cultivators to test their soil and use the correct amount of fertilizer.
Uneven use of fertilizer may create nutrient problems in the soil, so it’s essential to check the nutrition level of the orchard. Dr. Sharma suggested it is suitable to use 1% urea (2 kg in 200 liters of water) in the orchard right after harvesting if the orchard has had a good yield. Farmers usually use phosphorus and potash fertilizers in December and January, so it is advisable that farmers go for soil testing before then. October is the most suitable time to check soil samples.
To collect soil samples, take soil from 10–15 trees at a depth of 30 cm. Mix the samples together. Then divide the mixed soil into four parts. Remove two opposite parts and mix the remaining soil again. The process should be continued until you have 250-300 grams of soil. Farmers need to dry the sample in shade, then send it to the soil testing lab. Make sure to collect soil before adding any fertilizer or manure.
Dr. Dinesh Singh Thakur said that the Regional Horticulture Research and Training Center Mashobra has all the necessary equipment to test the major nutrients in the soil and has already begun soil testing at the center.
