10 Present address: 1 Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; 2 ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, NabiBagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal; 3 Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan-II, New Delhi. *Corresponding author e-mail: shalinijhanji@pau.edu. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 91 (5): 666–72, May 2021/Review Article Road to successful foriculture through soil micronutrient mapping of different zones of India SHALINI JHANJI 1 *, A K SHUKLA 2 , K K DHATT 1 and PRABHAT KUMAR 3 Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India Received: 17 August 2020; Accepted: 18 December 2020 ABSTRACT The present scenario for natural resource conservation demands for crop diversifcation and effcient management of natural resources, viz. water, nutrient, soil. The horticultural crops are always looked upon for diversifcation and within horticultural crops; fruits and vegetables are given prime importance for nutritional value and high outputs. Floricultural crops have emerged as potent livelihood crops for small and marginal farmers, employment for youth with low inputs, crop diversifcation and natural resource management. The improper use of inputs, viz. fertilizer and water in foral crops limits their production and can adversely affect soil health. So foriculturists should work on this least attended area and recommend appropriate fertilizers to fower growers for good quality production. In comparison to other crops, the nutrient requirement of foral crops is more due to which they scavenge more nutrients from soil so large amount of these nutrients are needed to replenish the soil to maintain balance. The critical limits of micronutrients for different agronomic crops have been developed and same are used for foricultural crops too but as requirement of these crops is higher so critical limits for foral crops need to be developed. Keeping in view all above, an attempt has been made to map micronutrient status of major fower producing states that could be used in management of micronutrient requirement of different foral crops. This will further help in development of policies pertaining to sound micronutrient management packages and precision fertilization in foriculture. Keywords: Floriculture, Flower producing districts, Micronutrients, PCD maps, Soil micronutrient status Floriculture, as an agro industry, is widening up its horizon and setting up a new platform in production of fowers with wide range of uses from curative to aesthetic. The globalization and its impact on income generation worldwide, has led to an increase in consumption of fowers in most of the countries (Misra and Sudip 2016). Floriculture has immense potential to generate remunerative self-employment among different farmers. The scenario of foriculture products is expanding at a rapid rate worldwide with a good prospective in India too. Earlier, foriculture in our country was restricted to growing of traditional fowers like marigold, jasmine, chrysanthemum and rose but today, realizing the importance of fowers at national and international levels, cultivation of high valued cut fower crops like carnation, gladiolus, gerbera, lilies etc. and seed production have been emphasized. India has diverse agro-climatic conditions that provide opportunities for production of different horticultural crops like fruits, vegetables, ornamental and plantation crops, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants etc. The present scenario demands cultivation of these crops to achieve basics of livelihood for small and marginal farmers, employment for youth with low inputs, crop diversifcation and natural resource management. Floriculture includes the study pertaining to growth, development, culture, management, post harvest physiology, production and marketing of cut and loose fowers, potted fowers, bedding and foliage plants, succulents, herbaceous annuals and perennials including geophytes. The total area under foriculture in India is 3.39 lakh ha with total production of 28.58 lakh metric tons. Out of this total production, 19.91 lakh metric tons (MT) production is of loose fowers and 8.67 lakh MT of cut fowers during 2018-19 (National Horticulture Board, 2018-19 1 st adv. Estimates). India exported 19726.57 MT of foriculture products to the world worth ` 571.38 crores in 2018-19 (http://nhb.gov.in/statistics/State_Level/2018-19. The per cent share of foriculture to total horticulture production has increased to 1.1 in 2018-19.To increase production and get more income by fower production in the country, excessive use of inputs, viz. nutrients, water, chemicals etc is done. As foral produce is not edible so excessive inputs are used by fower growers without considering ill effect of these inputs on soil or animal health. Soil environment is the most https://doi.org/10.56093/ijas.v91i5.112980