Vol. 12, Special Issue 8 (2023)

Author(s):
Seerat un Nissa, ZA Dar, Mehfooza Habib, S Ansarul Haq, Efath Shahnaz, Majid Chesti, Inayat Mustafa, Zahoor Baba, Zahida Rashid, Shafeeq Hakeem, Shahida Iqbal and Shamshir ul Hussan

Abstract:
A substantial increase in the area and production of vegetables has been observed in relation with technology mission, extent and determinants of marketed surplus and price spread of vegetables in the Kashmir valley. Vegetables are high nutrient demanding crops. Repeated applications of fertilizers in vegetable growing fields without knowing its fertility status may create severe imbalance of nutrients. All essential plant nutrients are present in soil system either in available or in complex forms. Number of soil factors like pH, salinity/alkalinity, calcareousness, clay colloids, organic matter and its rate of mineralization and immobilization affect their availability to plants. Therefore, before conversion of traditional food grain growing fields in to vegetable fields, one should ensure the soil fertility analysis with particular emphasis on micronutrients. Some of the vegetables need specific nutrient in higher quantity for example, cole crops need more K, B, Mo & Ca whereas fruit vegetables B & S and leguminous vegetables Ca & P. The nutrients required by plants may come from various sources, such as the atmosphere, soil, irrigation water, mineral fertilizers, manures and biofertilizers. The combinations, quantities and integration of nutrients to be supplied from various sources (integrated plant nutrient supply) depend on various factors including the type of crop, soils, availability of various resources, and ultimately on economic considerations, such as the level of production and the costs of inputs and outputs. Integrated nutrient management (INM) is a well-accepted approach for the sustainable management of soil productivity and increased crop production.