Response of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) to fertigation of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium under Kerawa land of Kashmir valley.

An experiment was conducted during 2003-04 to evaluate the application of different doses of fertilizer through drip irrigation on growth, quality characteristics of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) at Srinagar. The application of full dose of N, P and K through drip irrigation registered maximum shoot growth and plant height as compared to full dose of N, P and K application in tree basin. Plants treated with full dose of N, P and K through drip irrigation registered maximum yield (72.11 kg/tree), followed by 2/3 of NPK through drip irrigation (71.94 kg/tree), indicating non-significance differences between the treatments. Similar trends were also recorded in fruit weight with aforesaid treatments. However, maximum TSS (22.29°B) was observed with 2/3 of NPK through drip irrigation while as fruit acidity showed non-significant difference among the treatments. Application of 2/3 dose of N, P and K through drip irrigation registered minimum fruit cracking (2.83%), followed by full dose of N, P and K fertigation compared with the fertilizer application in basin (9.64%). The full dose of N, P and K through drip irrigation registered an enhancement in yield by 32.7% over the N, P and K without drip. Fertilizer-use efficiency was even more with 1/3 dose of N, P and K applied through drip as compared to full dose of N, P and K applied directly in the field. Maximum leaf nitrogen content was observed with 2/3 of NPK through drip while as leaf phosphorus and potassium contents ware found to be maximum in full dose of NPK through drip irrigation. The maximum uptake of Fe, Cu and Zn were recorded in 2/3 of NPK through drip and maximum Mn uptake was recorded in full dose of N, P and K in soil through drip.