Influence of different levels of potassium on growth characters and leaf nutrient status of apple in the Hilly Region of Himachal Pradesh.

The treatment consisted of seven levels of potassium i.e. 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 900 and 1000 g K tree-1/year. All the trees received uniform dose of 700 g N per tree per year as CAN and 350 g P2O5 per tree per year as single super phosphate and potassium was applied as muriate of potash. The data observed on tree growth showed that different levels of potassium had significant effect on growth characters, which might be due to better root development and nutrient uptake. Leaf N, P, Ca and Mg contents decreased with the increase in the K levels from 400 g to 1000 g K2O tree-1 though the effect on N was found to be non- significant.