Soil and Leaf Nutrient Status of Selected Valencia Orange Orchards in the Gharb Plain of Morocco
Monitoring the nutrient status of citrus orchards is fundamental to ensure optimum fruit yield and quality. In the present study, soil and leaf samples of 20 Valencia Late orange orchards were collected in the Gharb plain of Morocco, the second-largest citrus area in the country. The objective was to assess the status of essential macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) and micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn) in Valencia orange orchards and investigate the relationships between soil properties and nutrient contents in soils and leaves. Soils of the studied orchards had a medium to heavy texture, with low to moderate levels of organic matter content (6–31 g kg−1). They were also non-saline and mostly alkaline and calcareous. These soils exhibited a wide range of macro- and micronutrients. Suboptimum levels of total N, available Fe, and Cu were observed in most soils. Most of soils had also sufficient levels of available P, Mn, and Zn. All soils were sufficiently supplied with available Ca, Mg, and K. Similarly to soil analysis, leaf analysis indicated the prevalence of adequate to very high levels of P, Ca, Mn, and K. Leaf N and Fe status were below optimum levels in most orchards, which is in line with the observed low levels in soils.
