Abstract:

A field experiment was conducted during the yer 2009-2011 at a private Khasi mandarin orchard located at Umsning,Meghalaya to study the effect of soil hydro-physical properties on the productivity of Khasi mandarin. In the experiment, the orchard was divided into three slopes viz. the Western slope(WS, the Northen slope (NS) and the Southern slope (SS) based on the productivity of each slope. the highest yield was recorded in the SS(152.14 kg/tree) while the lowest was recorded in the WS(61.51kg/tree).The soils of the orchard were acidic in reaction with pH varying from 4.25-5.12, available soil organic carbon varied from 0.33-2.15%, available nitrogen was 112.8-401.4kg/ha, the available phosphorous was 10-31.3 kg/ha and the available potassium was found to vary from 163.8-252.8 kg/ha(VAnlaldauti, 2011). The yield of the crop was significantly (p=0.05) influenced by the soil hydro-physical properties like bulk density and the soil texture and the moisture content at flowering and fruiting stage also influenced the yield. Infiltration rates, hydraulic conductivity, water holding capacity of the soil and moisture content were highest in SS and were lower in WS. From the system productivity point of view, moisture availability with desirable amount during flowering and fruiting stage with the soil physical properties like bulk density and the soil texture,infiltration rates, hydraulic conductivity and the soil texture at good stead, productivity of the crop can be enhanced and we can conclude that rejuvenating program should be slope specific considering moisture conservation practices to make the moisture available during fruiting and at flowering stage of the crop, while maintaining a desirable soil physical health; these practices can contribute to a richer productivity of Khasi mandarin in Meghalaya, which can be extraolated to other similar areas.