The path coefficient analysis of yield components for leaf nutrient concentrations in Mango (Mangifera indica L.) under rainfed agroclimatic conditions of north-west Himalaya

• Yield components using correlations and path coefficient analysis of ‘Dashehari’ mango was studied.
• Leaf N content exhibited a strong positive direct effect on fruit yield.
• Maximum positive indirect effect was through leaf K on fruit yield.
• Direct effect of tree volume on fruit yield was positive, while, the maximum positive indirect effect was through leaf K.

This study aimed to understand the relationship for productivity related traits using correlations and path coefficient analysis of ‘Dashehari’ mango under rainfed agro-climatic zone conditions of north-west Himalayas of India. The study also identifies the relationship among agronomic and yield-related characteristics to know the direct and indirect effect of independent variables on managerial ability of the crop. Correlation and path coefficient analyses were carried out over two consecutive years (2004, 2005) seasons for plant growth (tree trunk), leaf nutrient concentration, and fruit yield across four districts of Himachal Pradesh. Based on yield performance, an optimum sample size of 20 trees from each orchard comprised of 10 trees each of two categories: high productive (>90 kg tree−1) and low productive (<90 kg tree−1) were selected using the probability proportional to size multistage sampling scheme. Both high as well as low productive orchards were analyzed for soil and leaf chemical properties. Simple linear correlation and path coefficient analyses were worked out between all possible combinations. The contribution of leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) on growth and fruit yield was studied. In high productive trees, path model showed that leaf N, Mg, Fe, Cu and Mn concentrations recorded the high magnitude of direct effect on fruit yield. However, leaf N concentration had a strong positive indirect effect through leaf Zn. Leaf Cu and Zn concentrations had a positive indirect effect through leaf Mg and leaf Zn on fruit yield. In low productive trees, leaf N concentration had a strong positive direct effect and a strong positive indirect effect via leaf Zn on fruit yield. Similarly, the direct effect of tree volume on fruit yield was positive, while, the maximum positive indirect effect was through leaf K. A residual value of 0.7308 and 0.7292 indicates the collective influence of the variables was to the magnitude of 0.2692 and 0.2708 to the extent of 26.9 and 27.1% toward fruit yield, and contributed 40.7 and 14.7% toward tree volume in high and low productive mango trees, respectively. The collective influence of the variables included on tree volume to the magnitude of 0.8521 and concluded that leaf nutrient content has been contributed to the extent of 14.7% toward tree volume.