DIAGNOSIS AND RECOMMENDATION INTEGRATED SYSTEM APPROACH FOR NITROGEN,PHOSPHORUS, POTASSIUM,AND ZINC FOLIAR DIAGNOSTIC NORMS FOR AONLA IN CENTRAL INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS

A survey was conducted for the nutritional status of aonla orchards in the state of Uttar Pradesh lying in Central Indo-Gangetic plains. Preliminary diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS) norms were established for different nutrient ratios and used to compute the DRIS indices, which assessed the nutrient balance and order of limitations to yield. Maximum fruit yield of 40.2 kg plant^?1 was recorded for the plants at the age group of 10–15 years and lowest yield was recorded 28.3 kg plant^?1 in the age of above 20 years. Nutrient sufficiency ranges for aonla derived from DRIS norms were 1.30– 1.64, 0.054–0.092, 0.40–0.64%, and 32.4–45.9 ppm for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn), respectively. On the basis of these sufficiency ranges 33, 51, 47, and 46% of samples were found sufficient whereas 34, 22, 18 and 27% of samples were low and 26, 8, 1 and 17% deficient in N, P, K, and Zn, respectively. When compared age wise, a relative deficiency for N, P, and K corresponding to relative sufficiency for Zn was detected by DRIS technique for the plants above the age group of 15 onwards. For the younger orchards (5yrs old) a relative deficiency of N, Zn, and K corresponding to the relative sufficiency of P was detected. Nitrogen was found most limiting elements in all age group of plant. When the DRIS indices were compared on basis of soil pH, Zn and K was found to be relatively lesser in order of requirement than N and P.