Deficiency of Iron in Eucalyptus Plantations of Variable Age in Punjab and its Amelioration

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during March, 2018 to March, 2020 at Research Farm of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana and a few villages in Ludhiana district of Punjab, India to standardize the application of iron (Fe) in eucalyptus plantations varying from one to five years of age to eradicate Fe deficiency in these plantations. The treatments (g plant^-1) consisted of plants without Fe application, 100 g S+100 g FeSO₄.7H₂O, 200 g S+200 g FeSO₄.7H₂O, 300 g S+300 g FeSO₄.7H₂O, 50 g Fe EDTA (iron chelate), 100 g Fe EDTA, 200 g Fe EDTA, 300 g Fe EDTA and 400 g Fe EDTA. The diameter at breast height (DBH) and height of plants were measured at the time of fertilizer application and one year after application. The DBH and height one year after application improved over increase in control by 6.86 and 7.13% respectively in first year plants with 50 g plant^-1, 8.58 and 10.16% respectively in second year plants and 9.41 and 10.2% respectively in third year plants with 100 g plant^-1, and 10.85 and 11.21% respectively in fourth year plants and 10.27 and 11.87% respectively in fifth year plants with 200 g plant^-1 Fe EDTA alongwith correction of Fe deficiency completely. Therefore, the deficiency of Fe can be corrected by application of 50 g plant^-1 Fe EDTA to first year plantations, 100 g plant^-1 Fe EDTA to second and third year plantations and 200 g plant^-1 Fe EDTA to fourth and fifth year plantations of eucalyptus.