DOI : 10.26480/aedc.01.2025.21.30

ABSTRACT

The sweet orange growing famers of Sindhuli district were using significantly less fertilizers for sweet orange, junar in Nepali, production. However, productivity of it in 2023 was seen highest among all junar growing areas in Nepal. The altitude might be the reason to influence the soil nutrients status in Junar cultivated orchards in Sindhuli district. So, a research study was conducted in sweet orange cultivated orchards of Junar Superzone, PMAMP, Golanjor Rural Municipality, Sindhuli, Nepal. The research was to assess the impact of altitude on the soil nutrients status of cultivated orchards of sweet orange. For that, five altitudes were taken into consideration as five different treatments viz. (950-1050) masl, (1050-1150) masl, (1150-1250) masl, (1250-1350) masl and (1350-1450) masl. Each treatment was replicated four times and twenty composite soil samples were collected from all the treatments. The research was designed in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Soil samples were collected from 1-1.25 ft depth allocating Z- shape in orchard. The samples were tested in soil and fertilizer testing laboratory, Hetauda and then the result was interpreted using Microsoft Excel & R- studio. RCBD table was designed for each parameter and the significant data were subjected for mean comparison using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 0.05 level of significance. The correlation analysis was done using Ms. Excel and ANOVA table for the tested parameters were prepared. Altitude showed significant impact on the availability of different soil parameters (N, P, pH and SOM) except for potassium availability. Soil pH decreased with increased altitude, ranging from neutral (7.05) at lower elevation (950-1050) masl to higher acidic (4.17) at higher altitude (1350-1450) masl. The soil of Golanjor was acidic in nature from the interpreted result. Soil organic matter (SOM), nitrogen and phosphorus levels increased with increased in altitude. The level of phosphorus in the soil increased at higher altitude, possibly due to the soil’s acidic nature, which affects phosphorus bonding and availability. The highest levels of SOM (7.06%) at (1350-1450) masl, nitrogen (0.90%) at (1350-1450) masl and phosphorus (80 kg/ha) at (1350-1450) masl as well as lowest level of SOM (0.97%), N (0.08%) and P (12 kg/ha) at (950-1050) masl were recorded. The potassium content, however, showed no significant variation across different altitudes, although it was generally high in all soil samples. The nutrient index finding by the formula given by Ramamoorthy and Bajaj (1969) revealed the soil of Golanjor had medium SOM, high N, low P and high K. To increase the level of P in soil, the recommended dose of Phosphorus fertilizer should be applied for better sweet orange cultivation and production.