Fertigation Research with Apple Trees

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 33; no. 2; p. 208
• Main Author: Stiles, Warren C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-04-1998
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.33.2.208d

Studies initiated in 1986 indicated beneficial effects on growth and cropping of young apple trees from trickle irrigation plus soil application of nutrient elements or fertigation with a weekly multielement complement. In 1993, an orchard facility was established to evaluate responses to alternative sources, rates, and methods of application of K, Zn, or Cu. Results of two separate experiments with K indicate the following: 1) Application of K at 112 kg·ha -1 per year increased growth and yield of `Marshall McIntosh'/M.9 and `Royal Empire'/M.9 trees. Differences between soil surface and two fertigation regimes and between KCl and KNO 3 were nonsignificant. 2) There were no differences among three sources of K (Cl - , , ) at three rates (37, 75, or 112 kg·ha -1 per year) applied in 16 weekly fertigations. All rates of K increased tree growth and yield in years 1 to 3. As cropping increased, rate effects tended to increase up to 75 kg K/ha per year. In the first 4 years, fertigation with EDTA chelates of Zn or Cu have been more effective than sulfates in increasing leaf Zn or Cu, but effects on tree growth and yield have not been significant. Results indicate no significant advantage of fertigation over conventional methods of application for K, Zn, or Cu as long as trees are irrigated adequately. E-mail [e-mail] ; phone [phone].