Precision nitrogen fertigation and irrigation management for improved apple quality
Nitrogen (N) management is a balance to meet tree demands for current seasons' crop as well as for internal storage for the subsequent season whilst reducing N loss via runoff and deep drainage.
Whilst fertigation is commonly practised by apple growers in Australia, research into tree nutrient requirements and therefore fertigation management strategies are limited.
In the Huon valley of southern Tasmania, we applied N (Ca(NO3)2) treatments pre- and postharvest combined with high (4 L h-1), medium (2.3 L h-1) and low (1.6 L h-1) irrigation treatments to 10 year-old 'Galaxy' trees grafted on M26 rootstocks.
We measured yield, fruit quality attributes and fruit N content.
Data from the second season revealed fruit in the low irrigation treatments were significantly smaller (152 g) but firmer, with higher total soluble solids (11.8 °Brix). Irrigation treatment had no effect on fruit colour, however fruit background colour decreased significantly with increased current season N application.
Fruit N content was not significantly influenced by N application.
This study demonstrates the strong linkage between N and irrigation management on the above ground components of orchard production and urges caution for growers implementing preharvest fertigation.
Swarts, N.D., Hardie, M. and Close, D.C. (2016). Precision nitrogen fertigation and irrigation management for improved apple quality. Acta Hortic. 1130, 485-490
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1130.73
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1130.73
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1130.73
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1130.73
fruit size, colour, firmness, total soluble solids, 'Galaxy', Tasmania
English
1130_73
485-490
- Workgroup Orchard and Plantation Systems
- Workgroup Environmental Physiology and Developmental Biology
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Physiology and Plant-Environment Interactions of Horticultural Crops in Field Systems
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Division Protected Cultivation and Soilless Culture
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits