ISHS Acta Horticulturae 383: Mineral Nutrition of Deciduous Fruit Plants
USE OF BORON FERTILIZERS IN APPLE ORCHARDS OF LITHUANIA |
| Author: | S. Švagzdys |
| Keywords: | apple trees, boron, leaf mineral content, leaf spray, yield |
| Abstract:
According to the programme prepared of the Lithuanian Institute of Horticulture Agrochemical Research Centre carried out leaf analysis in Lithuanian apple orchards. Leaf analysis of fruit trees from 14 farms (2 000 ha of orchards) indicated a lack of boron over 17 % of the area and a deficiency of boron over 60 % of the total area studied. Boron fertilizers were used at bloom time and later. The effect, after the cold winter of 1986–1987, on N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, and B levels in apples tree leaves and the yield was determined. Investigations were carried out with Cortland variety. The results obtained show that a single spray of the trees with boron fertilizers increased the content of boron in apple tree leaves but its levels did not reach the, optimum. For a single spray with boron fertilizers the yield increased by 1.7–2.3 %. After application for two successive years yield increased by 21.1–22.7 %. The effect on fruit yield after application for two years remains for the third year, especially when boron was applied after bloom. Boron fertilizers were especially efficient after a cold winter, when frost-damaged shoots were sprayed with boron fertilizers fruit yield increased two-fold. The results suggested that boron fertilizers can be used in apple tree orchards especially after a cold winter. | |
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