Soil and Nutrients

Kashmir is known for its world famous Apples and of course - a mainstay of global economy. Nature has bestowed Kashmir valley with agro climatic conditions conducive for apple cultivation and a strong comparative advantage in its production and marketing. The fruit industry is the backbone of economy in Jammu and Kashmir and has a great potential to ameliorate the condition of rural people. Kashmiri apple has lived up to its reputation for being one of the choicest fruits as Kashmir has been for long called the home of apples. Nutrition plays an important role in determining the quality and yield of fruit crops. The deficiency or an excess of an essential element may cause disturbance in plant metabolism and its vital functioning. A considerable amount of various nutrients drain off every year in the form of yield, pruning wood and fallen leaves from the plant and soil system, so nutritional survey is important to know the general fertility status of the soils and is pre-requisite for any crop research and developmental program.