Identifying and Correcting Nutrient Deficiencies in Pomegranate through Integrated Nutrient Management
Pomegranate production thrives on the type and health of the soil. Conducting a soil test is crucial to select suitable land and plan balanced fertilization. Identifying nutrient deficiency symptoms early and addressing them promptly is essential. Using organic, biological, and green manures optimally can significantly enhance soil fertility, especially in light, coarse, and rocky soils that typically have lower moisture and nutrient retention capacities.
Importance of Soil Testing
Before the planting season, testing the soil to determine its fertility level and suitability for pomegranate cultivation is vital. Additionally, analyzing newly matured leaves from the eighth pair from the top of the branch can provide insights into the plant’s nutrient status. In the absence of soil and leaf testing facilities, farmers must rely on visual identification of nutrient deficiency symptoms in plant leaves. Regular practice and experience can help farmers accurately identify these symptoms.
| Nutrient: | Function: | Deficiency Symptoms: |
| Nitrogen | Essential for bud breaking post-pruning, protein and chlorophyll synthesis, and uniform shoot and leaf growth. | Yellowing and drying of old leaf tips, stunted growth, and overall yellowing of the tree. |
| Phosphorus | Promotes root growth and fruit set. | Oblong leaves with reduced width, yellowing, and dark red discoloration in severe cases. |
| Potash (Potassium) | Enhances fruit color, taste, weight, quality, and resistance to diseases and abiotic stress. | Yellowing of old leaves from edges towards the midrib, poor fruit quality, and increased susceptibility to diseases. |
| Calcium | Aids in cell wall formation, cell division, and increases fruit puffiness, shelf life, and pulp content. | Reduced leaf size, yellowing from tips, dark brick-colored leaf surfaces, and fruit cracking. |
| Magnesium | Key component of chlorophyll, supports green leaf color, and stimulates growth hormones. | Interveinal chlorosis in old leaves, yellowing from tips, and gray appearance in severe cases. |
| Sulphur | Enhances fruit sugar levels, quality, shelf life, and protects against fungal diseases. | Yellowing of new leaves near the midvein, increased fungal disease incidence. |
| Zinc | Increases leaf greenness, size, and number, supports chlorophyll, carbohydrate, and protein production, and auxin synthesis. | Mottled leaves, narrow and pointed leaves, and restricted plant growth. |
| Boron | Facilitates calcium, potassium, and nitrogen uptake, improves flowering, fruit setting, size, weight, and quality, and prevents fruit cracking. | Leaf necrosis, chlorotic leaf tips, leaf drop, and plant death. |
Challenges in Recognizing Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms
Pomegranate crops are not highly sensitive to nutrient deficiencies, making symptoms less noticeable. However, nutrient deficiencies can adversely affect crop physiology and yield. To mitigate this, integrating organic, biological, and green manures into pomegranate management is essential.
Integrated Nutrient Management in Pomegranate
A. Soil Application
- Apply 625:250:250 g NPK + 50 kg cow dung + 2 kg neem cake per tree after stress ends and before the first watering.
- Apply 50% nitrogen, 40% phosphorus, and 40% potash through soil using urea, Mosaic DAP, Mosaic MOP, and Mosaic K-Mag, followed by drip fertigation for the remaining fertilizer.
B. Fertigation through Drip
| Resting to Vegetative Stage | Bud Emergence Stage | Flowering to Fruiting Stage | Fruit Enlargement Stage | Fruit Maturity |
| (1 to 20 Days) | (21-50 Days) | (51-80 Days) | (81-130 Days) | (131-180 Days) |
| Mosaic Reva 19:19:19 / 12:61:00 5 kg / acre (3 doses) | Mosaic Reva 13:00:45 / Calcium Nitrate 5 kg / acre (3 doses) | Mosaic Reva 13:00:45 / Calcium Nitrate 5 kg / acre (2 doses) | Mosaic Reva 0:52:34 5 kg / acre (2 doses) | Mosaic Reva SOP 00:00:50 5 kg / acre (6 doses) |
| Mosaic Reva 0:52:34 5 kg / acre (3 doses) | Mosaic Reva 0:52:34 5 kg / acre (2 doses) | Mosaic Reva 0:52:34 5 kg / acre (3 doses) | Mosaic Reva 5 kg / acre (2 doses) |
C. Foliar Application
- Zinc: Mosaic Magna Zinc (39.5% Zinc) at 250 ml / acre at 30-35 and 50-55 days after pruning.
- Boron: Mosaic Magna Boron (10% Boron) at 250 ml / acre at 30-35 and 50-55 days after pruning.
- Calcium: Mosaic Magna Calcium (11% Calcium) at 1000 ml / acre at 60, 40 and 20 days before harvesting.
Use of Biofertilizer in Pomegranate Nutrition Management
Incorporate microbial inoculants like Azotobacter, Phosphate Solubilizing Biofertilizer (PSB), Potash Mobilizing Bacteria, Sulphur Oxidizing Bacteria, Zinc Oxidizing Bacteria, and Mycorrhiza for efficient fertilizer use.
By following these integrated nutrient management practices, pomegranate growers can ensure healthy crops and high yields. Regular soil and leaf testing, along with the use of organic and biofertilizers, can significantly improve soil fertility and plant health.