ISHS Acta Horticulturae 254: II International Peach Symposium
FACTORS AFFECTING FOLIAR NUTRIENT LEVELS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO PEACH YIELD |
| Author: | G.A. Cummings |
| Abstract:
The effect of soils and applied fertilizers on foliar nutrient levels in peach foilage are discussed. Dolomitic lime application resulted in marked increases in foliar Ca and Mg, and decreased foliar Mn. Increased soil pH lowered foliar K and N for several years after orchard establishment, but this effect was not consistent after the seventh year. Time required after lime application to detect increases in foliar Ca ranged from 2 to 4 years in various experiments, while application of calcium nitrate or gypsum always resulted in increased foliar Ca by the second year. Soil test levels of nutrients normally exhibit little correlation with foliar levels. Foliar levels within the published sufficiency ranges, with the exception of Ca, normally show a poor correlation with yield. Even with foliar Ca, the positive correlation is probably related more to the effect of increased soil pH rather than with foliar Ca. Foliar test values for any nutrient should be inter-preted only after consideration of all factors that might influence nutrient levels. | |
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