Conjunct use of organic manures, bio-fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers for improving plant health of plum cv. Santa Rosa

A field trial was conducted on plum orchards during 2011 and 2012 under north Indian conditions. The treatments involved the application of inorganic fertilizers (urea, SSP and MOP), FYM, vermi-compost, biofertilizers and green manure in different combinations. The results showed highest annual shoot growth (55.27 cm), tree height (4.98 m), tree volume (18.62 m(3)), leaf N (2.98%), K (3.44%) and Ca (2.86%) content with the treatment 'T-5'- 75% NPK + bio-fertilizers (60 g each/tree basin) + green manuring (sunhemp @ 25 g seeds/tree basin). Whereas, the highest trunk girth (71.47 cm), leaf area (13.12 cm(2)), leaf Fe (265.16 ppm) and Zn (28.04 ppm) were observed with 'T-7' = 50% NPK + bio-fertilizers (60 g each/ tree basin) + green manuring (sunhemp @ 25 g seeds/tree basin) + FYM (40 kg) + vermicompost (11.5 kg). Thus, the combined application of nutrients in treatments T-5 and T-7 were found to be superior as compared to other treatments for enhancing the tree growth and leaf nutrients, which in turn lead to increase in fruit yield and quality.