ISHS Acta Horticulturae 564: IV International Symposium on Mineral Nutrition of Deciduous Fruit Crops
EFFECTS OF WATER STRESS ON GROWTH AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF 'GALA' APPLE FRUIT |
| Authors: | S. Yao, G.H. Neilsen, D. Neilsen |
| Keywords: | apple, drip irrigation, fruit N, P, K, Ca, Mg, soil texture |
| Abstract:
Mid-season water stress (1/4 normal irrigation) was imposed in a randomized complete block design to 6 replicate 3-tree plots of 6-year-old “Gala” apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) grown in either a sandy loam or silt loam soil. Sequential weekly fruit diameter measurements were made and biweekly fruit samples were collected for fresh weight and mineral contents from each treatment and replicate commencing immediately prior to the imposition of water stress until commercial fruit harvest. On the sandy loam site, reduced fruit fresh weight occurred within four weeks after the imposition of water stress. Similar diameter reductions were not measured on the silt loam until five weeks after water stress initiation. Both water stress treatment and soil type affected fruit diameter and fruit weight. The seasonal pattern of fruit N, P, K, Ca and Mg concentration were unaffected by the water stress treatments and soil type, decreasing from maximum early in the season, to minimum at harvest. The accumulation of Ca per fruit increased continuously throughout the growing season, peaking two weeks prior to harvest, and then declining at harvest. This pattern was unaffected by water stress or soil type. The accumulation of N, P, K, Mg was continuous throughout the season, usually reaching a peak at harvest and sometimes was reduced for the water stressed apple trees grown on the sandy soil. | |
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