Phosphorus leaching from intensive agriculture systems is one of major contributors responsible for pollution of ground-water and surface water bodies. The aim of this study was to determine the content of phosphorus in orchard lawn for reduction of phosphorus fertilizer application and to include the phosphorus from mown grass into P balance and turnover calculation. The investigation was done at the Latvia State Institute of Fruit–Growing in 2009. Three treatments were compared: control, mulch and fertigation. Inter-row strips were covered by grass vegetation. Grass samples were collected at the time of grass mowing. The removal of phosphorus was calculated as kilograms per hectare area. The concentration of phosphorus in the lawn and the height of grass growth were significantly influenced by the mowing time and the soil moisture treatment. These results can be a base for further studies of phosphorus turnover in an orchard, as well as for fertilizer planning and management.
The objective of the research was to study the possible competition between roots of apple-trees and grass under the influence of applied moisture regulation methods. No analogical research has been performed in Latvia so far. The investigation was done on the base of an existing trial planted in 1997 with cultivar `Melba` at 1.5 × 4 m planting distances. Three different treatments of soil moisture management were compared: control, sawdust mulch and fertigation. Inter-row strips were covered by grass vegetation (Lolium perenne and Poa pratensis, in proportion 1:3). The horizontal and vertical spacing of the main root mass was determined, as well as the distance and depth of the spread of grass roots from the inter- row strip into the tree strip. The results of the research show that mulching and fertigation have significant influence on the horizontal and vertical root spacing of grass grown in the inter-row strip, which can be an evidence of competition between apple-trees and grass for water and nutrients.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.