ISHS Acta Horticulturae 448: III International Symposium on Mineral Nutrition of Deciduous Fruit Trees
CHANGES OF PHYSIO-CHEMICAL SOIL PROPERTIES AS A EFFECT OF A DRIP IRRIGATION OF PLUM TREES |
| Authors: | W. Treder, T. Olszewski, G. Cieslinski |
| Keywords: | plum, drip irrigation, soil properties |
| Abstract:
In our experiment, plum trees cv, “Cacanska Najbolja” grown in sandy loam soil (pH 6.0) were supplied with tap water by means of drip irrigation system. Plants were planted in a distance of 4.2 m x 2.9 m and the drip emitters were located 0.35 m from the tree trunk. Each emitter was set up for emition of 4 L of water per hour. Plants were irrigated for the maintenance of soil moisture at the level of -0.02MPa of water potential. Five years after planting, soil samples were collected from soil profile depths: 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–80 cm and sites located at a distance 20, 40, 60, and 80 cm from the emitter at each depth. Soil samples were analysed for concentration of exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and P. Soil pH was measured separately for each site. The results showed a significant effect of water application to the soil through the drip irrigation system on chemical composition of soil at different distances from the emitter and different depth of soil profile. Increase of the distance from the emitter resulted in increased K concentration and decreased soil pH, which was probably connected with lower concentration of Mg at the surface layer of soil (0–20 cm depth). The most striking differences between chemical properties of soil collected from different depths were observed right below the emitter. Although the dripping increased concentration of Mg at the surface layer of the soil, it did not affect soil pH in the soil profile. Also, K concentration at depth of 0–20 cm below the emitter was higher compared to those of deeper sites. The results of our study indicated that water application to soil through the drip irrigation system may significantly change selected chemical soil properties which seems to be critical for plant nutrition, fertilization/fertigation regimes, soil sampling etc. | |
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