Vol. 9, Special Issue 2, Part D (2025)

The present investigation entitled “Fertility norms for sweet orange in black soils of Vidarbha” was carried out during the year 2022-2023. The study was conducted to evaluate the soil and leaf nutrient status of black soils of Saoner tahsil of Nagpur district. Total 20 different samples of soils and plants (0-30 cm), aged between 6 to 8 years old were selected from orchards of Saoner for the study. The results of pH, EC, OC and CaCO₃ in study varied from 7.2 to 8.1, 0.102 to 0.257 dS m^-1, 4.4 to 5.9 g kg^-1, 2.3 to 4.8% respectively. Further, the yield data of selected sweet orange orchards were ranged from 12.6 to 28.9 t ha^-1 and fruit acidity and TSS were ranged between 0.35 to 0.51 and 8.2 to 10.5 per cent respectively. DRIS-based analysis predicted the optimum values of available nutrients N, P and K in soil as 312.4 to 336.1, 19.9 to 30.4, and 414.14 to 429.45 kg ha^-1. The adequate range of available sulphur and micronutrients Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were determined in the range of 8.6 to 17.9, 3.69 to 5.35, 5.45 to 9.39, 0.76 to 0.97 and 0.35 to 1.41 mg kg-1. Based on DRIS norms, the adequate range of leaf nutrients N, P, K and S were determined in the range of 1.98 to 2.85, 0.10 to 0.35, 1.39 to 1.83, and 0.28 to 0.39 per cent respectively. The adequate range of leaf nutrients Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were determined in the range of 82.8 to 122.4, 48.5 to 80.1, 12.3 to 25.4 and 7.1 to 9.8 mg kg^-1 respectively.