ABSTRACT
Apple plants, like other plant species, require a balanced quantity of all the essential nutrients for a high yield and better quality. These nutrients are supplied from soil nutrient reservoirs and by the addition of manures and fertilizers. The amount of needed nutrients supplied through manures and fertilizers is determined through soil testing and (or) plant testing and plant demand. Soil testing is carried out to check nutrient availability in soils. Foliar plant parts are analyzed to check the uptake of the available nutrients. The acquisition and uptake of available soil nutrients by the plant depends upon many factors like availability of the nutrients, mobility of the nutrients in soil and plant, soil texture, soil pH, etc. Balanced nutrient application is critical for fruit production and quality maintenance as nutrients are indispensable for completing the life cycle of plant. Nutrient management is based on the 4R nutrient stewardship concept where Rs refer to the application of right source, right rate, right time and right place. The quantity, mode and frequency of application of the nutrient depends upon the kind of fertilizer used. Methods of fertilizer application currently in vogue in apple orchards are broadcasting, band placement, fertigation, foliar application, etc.
