Nutrient management in citrus for sustainable crop production Hazarika Binita*, Goswami Soumitra, Gogoi Minti, Kotoky Utpal, Khangia Udita Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India-785013 *Corresponding Author Email- binita.hazarika@aau.ac.in
Online published on 20 May, 2023. Abstract Citrus is a high value fruit crop due to its high demand and worldwide cultivation. Citrus performs well in tropical as well as sub-tropical conditions. It is cultivated throughout India and is the third largest fruit crop after banana and mango. India ranks sixth in the production of citrus fruit in the world. To achieve desired yields in citrus crop, supply of sufficient amounts of readily available essential plant nutrients is needed. Application of fertilizers has a great influence on almost all the growth stages of citrus, from germination and root development, through vegetative stage and ripening to maturing and fruits color break stages. When providing nutrition to citrus trees, it is important to consider both the specific nutrients requirements of the plant as well as the soil conditions in which, it is grown. Giving the right nutrients at the right time will ensure high and quality yields, with reduced fertilizer waste and minimum environmental damage. Continuous use of chemical fertilizers degraded the soil health in terms of fertility, productivity and also resulted in soil pollution. In such situation, combined application of organic, inorganic and bio fertilizers need to be resorted to avoid deleterious effect of chemical fertilizers and improve physical properties of soil. A number of options for improved nutrient management are available for the citrus crops that are discussed in this article. Top Keywords Citrus, Integrated Nutrient Management, Malnutrition, Vermicompost, Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza. Top |