Nutrient status and its impact on quality and yield of almonds

227 Pages·2015·2.8 MB·English

by  Bilal Ahmad Padder

Nutrient status and its impact on quality and yield of
almonds

Bilal Ahmad Padder
(2011-364-D)

Division of Fruit Science
Faculty of Horticulture
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences &
Technology of Kashmir

2015

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Nutrient status and its impact on quality and yield of
almonds

Bilal Ahmad Padder
(2011-364-D)

Thesis

Submitted to

Faculty of Horticulture
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences &
Technology of Kashmir
in partial fulfilment of requirement for the award of the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture

(Fruit Science)

2015
2
3
Sher-e-Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir
Division of Fruit Science, Shalimar Campus Srinagar
190 025

Certificate – I

This is to certify that the thesis entitled, “Nutrient status and
its impact on quality and yield of almonds” submitted in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor
of Philosophy in Horticulture (Fruit Science), to the Faculty of
Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences &
Technology of Kashmir is a record of bonafide research work carried
out by Mr. Bilal Ahmad Padder (Regd. No. 2011-364-D) under my
supervision and guidance. No part of the thesis has been submitted for
any other degree or diploma.
It is further certified that information received during the course
of investigation has duly been acknowledged.

( Dr. W.M. Wani )
Chairman
Advisory Committee

Endorsed

Prof. & Head,
Division of Fruit Science
4
Sher-e-Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir
Division of Fruit Science, Shalimar Campus, Srinagar– 190 025

Certificate – II

We, the members of the Advisory Committee of Mr. Bilal
Ahmad Padder (Regd. No. 2011-364-D), a candidate for the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture (Fruit Science), have gone
through the manuscript of the thesis entitled, “Nutrient status and its
impact on quality and yield of almonds” and recommend that it may
be submitted by the student in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the award of the degree.

Advisory Committee

Chairman Dr. W.M. Wani
Professor-cum-Chief Scientist,
Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir
Members
Prof. M.S. Wani
Associate Director Education,
SKUAST-Kashmir

Dr. Javid Ahmad Wani
Associate Professor, Division of Soil Science,
SKUAST-Kashmir

Dr. F.A. Khan
Associate Professor, Division of Post Harvest
Technology, SKUAST-Kashmir

Dean’s Nominee Dr. Akhtar Ali Khan
Associate Professor, Division of Entomology,
SKUAST-Kashmir
5
Sher-e-Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir
Shalimar Campus Srinagar– 190 025

Certificate – III

This is to certify that the thesis entitled, “Nutrient status and
its impact on quality and yield of almonds” submitted by Mr. Bilal
Ahmad Padder (Regd. No. 2011-364-D) to the Faculty of
Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences
& Technology of Kashmir in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture
(Fruit Science) was examined and approved by the Advisory
Committee and External Examiner on …………….

Chairman External Examiner
Advisory Committee

Prof. & Head,
Division of Fruit Science

Dean,
Faculty of Horticulture,
SKUAST-Kashmir, Shalimar, Sriangar

6
Sher-e-Kashmir
University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir
Division of Fruit Science, Shalimar Campus Srinagar – 190 025

Name of the student : Bilal Ahmad Padder
Registration No. : 2011-364-D
Major subject : Fruit Science
Minor subjects : Soil Science/Biochemistry
Major advisor : Dr. W.M. Wani
Professor-cum-Chief Scientist,
Division of Fruit Science,
SKUAST-Kashmir
Title of the Thesis : “Nutrient status and its impact on quality
and yield of almonds”

ABSTRACT
The present investigation “Nutrient Status and its Impact on Quality and
Yield of Almonds” was carried out in almond growing belts of Kashmir and in
Dry Land Agriculture Research Station, SKUAST-K, Budgam. The nutrient status
of orchard soils and leaves at twenty one locations, seven from each altitude (high,
mid and low) in district Budgam and Pulwama were studied. A correlation
between the soil chemical properties and leaf nutrient concentration was worked
out. Correlation of nutrients with the nut characteristics was also worked out. Leaf
standardization was also studied. Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc and
Copper content in the almond leaves decreased and Calcium, Magnesium, Iron
and Manganese increased significantly as the season advanced. The nutrient
content (almost all macro and micro-nutrients) in the leaves sampled on July 1st
and July 15th was almost stable with a non-significant change between the samples
collected on these dates and this period could be considered for leaf tissue
indexing for better nutrient diagnosis. The soil pH was almost neutral with normal
EC. The organic carbon was however low. The N, P, K, Ca and Mg showed a
range of 35.06 to 143.33, 4.12 to 7.66, 30.06 to 84.03, 769.9 to 1527.5 and 117.95
to 192.42 ppm, respectively. N, P, and K showed a decreasing trend with an
increase in the soil depth while as Ca and Mg increased. N and K increased while
as Ca decreased with an increase in the altitude of a location. Soil micro-nutrients,
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Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu ranged from 15.00 to 66.65, 20.90 to 85.20, 0.13 and 1.50 and
0.70 to 3.81 ppm, respectively. All the micro-nutrients studied decreased with
increase in the soil depth while as increased with increase in the altitude of
location. Soil pH had a significant and negative correlation with available
Nitrogen and micro-nutrients. A significantly positive relation was observed
between soil pH and soil Calcium content. Soil organic carbon showed a
significant positive correlation with the available N, P, K, Mg and micro-
nutrients.
The leaf macro-nutrients N, P, K, Ca and Mg had a range of 1.46 to 2.50,
0.11 to 0.25, 1.37 to 1.79, 1.72 to 3.13 and 0.34 to 0.67 per cent, respectively.
Among the macro-nutrients, N and K decreased with decrease in altitude while Ca
and Mg increased. The leaf micro-nutrients, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu ranged from
126.70 to 159.62, 28.29 to 56.32, 12.50 to 28.58 and 3.25 to 7.68 ppm,
respectively. All the leaf micro-nutrients studied increased with increase in the
altitude of location. Leaf Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Calcium had a significant
positive relation with Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Calcium content in the surface
and sub-surface soil. Potassium and micro-nutrient content of leaves had a
significant positive correlation with respective contents in surface soil.
Nut yield ranged between 3.73 to 7.74 kg per tree with a nut weight of
2.55 to 3.14 g, kernel weight 0.79 to 1.48 g, nut size 24.25×13.64 to 34.24×20.64
mm, shelling percentage 30.98 to 51.55, kernel protein content 16.26 to 23.95 per
cent and kernel oil content 41.78 to 53.48 per cent. Nut yield was higher at low
and mid altitudes however nut size and shelling percentage was more in the high
altitude areas. Nut yield, nut size and kernel weight and kernel protein content had
a significant positive correlation with leaf nitrogen, however kernel oil content
had significant negative correlation. Potassium content had a positive and
significant influence on nut yield, nut length, nut weight, kernel weight, shelling
percentage and oil content. Nut yield and kernel oil content had significant
positive correlation with leaf Zinc. Nut yield, nut weight shelling percentage
showed a significant positive correlation with leaf Copper content.

Key words : Almonds, Sampling dates, Nutrients, Quality-attributes

Signature of Student Signature of Major Advisor
Dated : __________ Dated: ________________

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

A ll the praises for Allah the creator and sustainer of world, I have the faith that
nothing would have been possible even with the best level of my effort without His
constant shower of blessings, which went a long way in making my endeavour successful.
May Allah’s blessing be upon His most revered prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (SAW), His
family and all His companions.
With profound sense of gratitude, I place on record my sincere thanks and
personal regards to Dr. W.M. Wani, Professor-cum-Chief Scientist, Division of Fruit
Science, SKUAST-K, Shalimar Chairman of my Advisory Committee, for being the best
advisor one could ever dream. I appreciate all his contribution of time, impeccable and
benevolent guidance, valuable suggestions, constructive criticism and constant
encouragement during the entire course of this work which resulted in its successful
completion.
I am extremely thankful to the worthy members of my advisory committee Dr
M.S. Wani, Professor & Chief Scientist, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-K; Dr.
Javid Ahmad Wani Associate Professor Division of Soil Science SKUAST-K; Dr. F.A.
Khan, Associate Professor (Plant Physiology), Division of Post Harvest Technology,
SKUAST-K; Dr. Akhtar Ali Khan Associate Professor Division of Entomology
SKUAST-K, (Dean PG Nominee) for their constant help, valuable suggestions and kind
co-operation throughout the present study.
Indeed the words at my command are not adequate to convey my heartfelt thanks
to Dr. F.A. Banday, Professor & Head, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-K for his
intellectual guidance, encouragement, ever helping attitude, constructive suggestions,
scientific criticism and meticulous supervision that inspired me most during tenure of
study and helped me in lending presentable dimension to this work.
I am also privileged in expressing my sincere regard to Dr. F.Z. Zaki, Dean,
Faculty of Horticulture; Dr. Fayaz Ahmad Misgar, Professor/Chief Scientist, Division of
Fruit Science, SKUAST-K; Dr. M.K. Sharma, Assistant Professor, Division of Fruit
Science, SKUAST-K; Dr, Khalid Mushtaq, Associate Professor, Division of Fruit
Science, SKUAST-K; Dr. M.A. Mir, Assistant Professor, Division of Fruit Science,
SKUAST-K; Dr. Gh. Hassan, Assistant Professor, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-
K; Dr. G. Irshad, Assistant Professor, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-K; Dr. Khalid
Rasool, Assistant Professor, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-K; Dr. U. Iqbal,
Assistant Professor, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-K; Dr. Maqbool, Assistant
Professor, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-K; Dr. Shafat, Assistant Professor,
Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-K and Dr. Barkat, Assistant Professor, Division of
Entomology, SKUAST-K for their valuable and unending help and encouragement as and
when needed.
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I place on record my thanks to Vice-Chancellor Dr. Tej Pratap; Director Resident
Instructions-Cum Dean Post Graduate Studies Prof. Badrul Hassan and his Staff
especially Mr. Bilal Ahmad for their earnest help and cooperation in this endeavour.
I also acknowledge sincere thanks to the staff members of Central Library and
ARIS, SKUAST-K, Shalimar for rendering all possible help while collecting the research
literature.
Thanks are also due to Mr. Muhammad Yousuf, Mr. Farooq, Mr. Ab. Majeed,
Mr. Mohd. Abdudallah, Mr. Muzaffar, Mr. Bashir Ahmad(Bio-Tech. Lab.) and other
office and field staff of the Division of Fruit Science for their support and cooperation.
I donot find words to express the deep sense of gratitude and heartfelt thanks to
Ms. Shazia Nazir for decorating the “realm of my dreams” with flowers of love and pearls
of affection and for being with me all the time during the hardships and happiness in my
life.
I get immense pleasure to express my thanks to the galaxy of my friends – Mr.
Sameer Ahmad Latoo, Mr. Raashid Majeed Thokroo, Mr. Majid Ahmad Latoo, Mr. Vaid
Khurshid, Mr. Sajad Basu, Mr. Audil Khaki, Mr. Mujahid, , Mr. Tariq Padder, Jehangir
Baba, Mr. Suja Qurashi, Mr. Shabir A. Bhat, Mr. Mukhtar Darsaroo, Mr. Imtiyaz
Wani, Mr. Rayees, Mr. Hilal Bhat, Mr. Hilal Rather, Mr. Nisar, Towseef Ahmad Wani,
Ms. Quraza Akeemu, Ms. Heena Javid Ms. Muzayeen and extremely grateful to all of
my colleagues.
It would be my bounded duty to put on record a line of utmost gratitude to my
elder sister Masrat Jan and her husband Mr. Gh. Mohd Wani, my younger sister Ms.
Nusrat Jabeena, my brother Mr. Fayaz Ahmad Padder, my nephews Mr. Sameer Ahmad
Wani and Mr. Fahad Ahmad Wani and my maternal aunts for their love and support.
Words are inadequate and fail to convey my utmost regards and sincere thanks to
my esteemed parents Mrs. and Mr. Gh. Hassan Padder and my in-laws Mrs. And Mr.
Nazir Ahmad Latoo whose countless blessings, spiritual bliss, constant encouragement,
inspiration, sustained help, affection and cheerfulness were always a great source of
strength and illumination which illuminated the dark path and led me to success.
Finally I extend my sincere thanks to Mr. Younus Ahmad Bhat and Mr. M.
Rafiq of M/s Universal Computers, Shalimar for taking lot of pains and care in composing
this manuscript beautifully in shortest possible time.

Bilal Ahmad Padder
Place : Shalimar, Srinagar
Dated :

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