Effects of orchard management practices on yield, quality and leaf nutrient content of Coorg mandarin

SummaryThe effects of orchard management practices such as clean cultivation, use of herbicides, digging once a year, sod culture and mulching were studied on the yield, quality and leaf nutrient content of ‘Coorg’ mandarin. Significant differences were observed in the weights and numbers of fruits, in total soluble sugars and in the ascorbic acid content of fruits. Dry-leaf mulching resulted in the maximum weight and numbers of fruits. Higher soil moisture retention was found with dry leaf mulching during the post-monsoon dry months at depths of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm. Higher leaf contents of N, K, Ca and Mg were recorded after dry-leaf mulching followed by the herbicide treatment. High leaf phosphorus was recorded in sod-culture.