Vol. 11(1), pp. 20-26, April 2023
https://doi.org/10.14662/arjasr2023015
Copyright 2023
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
ISSN: 2360-7874
http://www.academicresearchjournals.org/ARJASR/Index.htm
 

Research paper

Periodic Variation in Nitrogen Content of Plum Leaves

 

Syed Azam Shah, Shahzada Asif Ali, Parvez Khan

 

Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Peshawar Corresponding author: Name: Dr. Syed Azam Shah Postal address: Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Tarnab, Peshawar, Pakistan E-mail address:azamsbpn3@gmail.com Telephone #: 091-2964060-62 Fax #: 091-2964059

 

Accepted 10 March 2023

Abstract

Nitrogen (N), plays a critical role in enhancing fruit buds formation, fruit setting and overall tree vigour. Its deficiency causes reduction in normal and functional leaf surface that ultimately may result in getting fruit of reduced size and inferior quality. Nitrogen requirement of deciduous fruit trees has traditionally been assessed from N concentration in the leaves. To study nitrogen levels on monthly basis in deciduous plum fruit orchard, an experiment was conducted for three years (2014-2016) in Peshawar and Nowshera Districts of KP, Pakistan. Leaf samples were collected from plum orchards (cv. Fazli Manani) of three selected sites (Site I: NIFA, Peshawar, Site II Mera Kachori, Peshawar, Site III: Khushmaqam, Nowshera). Samples in everysite experiment were collected from forty-two trees of uniform age (about six-year-old) and size. These trees were classified into seven treatments; every treatment having two trees replicated thrice. Leaf samples from the orchards were collected from mid-April to mid-November each year during 2014-2016. For this, purpose 12-16 fully matured leaves from different branches of four quadrants were collected and analyzed for nitrogen content. Results showed that Nitrogen content of leaves bit by bit enhanced from April to August and so trend went downward until November in all the sites. the very best N concentrations (2.42, 2.46 and 2.44%) were found within the month of August at NIFA, Mera Kachori and Khushmaqam orchards respectively. Whereas all-time low nitrogen concentrations (1.74, 1.92 and 1.77%) were found within the month of November at NIFA, Mera Kachori and Khushmaqam orchards respectively. it should be recommended that nitrogen application is needed once the dormant season before bud sprout so as to make full the deficiency within the plum.

 

Key words: Nitrogen, Plum Leaves, Fazli Manani

 

How to cite this article (APA Style): Shah, S.A., Ali, S.A., Khan, P. (2023). Periodic Variation in Nitrogen Content of Plum Leaves. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 11(1): 20-26