ISHS Acta Horticulturae 297: II International Symposium on Kiwifruit
OSMOTIC EFFECTS ON PERFORMANCE AND FRUIT QUALITY OF KIWIFRUIT VINES |
| Authors: | G.S. Smith, S.A. Miller |
| Keywords: | chloride, potassium, root growth, bud break, fruit growth, fruit quality |
| Abstract:
The effects of exceptionally large quantities of soluble fertiliser (4 tonnes and 10 tonnes ha-1 of a 12:10:10 NPK mixture) on vine performance and fruit quality were investigated. Bud break, flower numbers, and root growth were all increased by the treatments. Measurements at harvest showed that fruit yields were doubled for the 10 tonne treatment compared to the control vines which received typical annual inputs of fertiliser. The high fertiliser treatments had no effect on the postharvest storage of the fruit. Leaf analysis indicated that nitrogen and potassium concentrations in the leaves of the treated vines remained at high levels throughout the season compared to those in the control vines. Although in excess of 1200 kg ha-1 of chloride was applied, the chloride concentration in the leaves of the vines receiving the largest quantity of fertiliser were lower than that found in the control vines. Root growth was greatly stimulated by the addition of large quantities of fertiliser. Measurements made in late summer showed a 62% increase in new roots for the high fertiliser treatments. These results indicate that kiwifruit vines are tolerant of relatively high concentrations of soluble salts in the root zone and that osmotic effects may play an important part in the bud-breaking process in spring. | |
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