Effect of inorganic and organic nitrogenous fertilizers on soil nutrient status, plant growth and yield of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.)

The work is aimed to find out the most suitable substitute of CAN fertilizer to assess its effect on fertility, growth and yield of apricot. The experiment constituted 11 treatments replicated thrice in RBD design at the Research Farm of Department of Soil Science and Water Management, Nauni, Solan, India during 2015 and 2016. The highest organic carbon (1.34, 1.21%) was recorded with treatment T11 [100% urea enriched compost + 0% Ca (NO3)2] at 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths. There were significant variations and maximum available N and P contents were recorded under treatment T7 (urea 100% + lime 708 g/tree) while, maximum K was in T1 which indicated that available N, P and K increased by 16.95% and 16.58%; 34.83% and 32.36%; 19.98% and 12.76% over the initial values recorded, respectively at 0–15 and 15–30 cm depths. The highest available Ca (4.46 and 4.11[cmol (p+) kg−1]) was recorded under T1, Mg (2.11 and 1.95 [cmol (p+) kg−1]) under T6 and available S contents (56.46 kg ha−1and 51.67 kg ha−1) under T9 at surface and subsurface depths, respectively. Available Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn were highest under treatment T6 (urea100%+ 0%Ca (NO3)2). Maximum increase in tree height (0.40 m) and trunk girth (0.50 cm) was observed under T7 (urea 100% + lime 708 g/tree). Similarly, maximum fruit yield (30.03 kg/tree) was recorded with T7. From the present investigation, it is concluded that application of urea 100%+ lime 708 g/tree improved soil fertility, plant growth and yield during the study.