Calcium sources applied to soil can replace leaf application in ‘Fuji’ apple tree1

Abstract

Calcium increases postharvest conservation of apples. Consequently, several calcium foliar sprays are generally applied to apple trees. Due to the low mobility of calcium in the phloem, foliar sprays may have low efficiency to supply calcium in the fruits. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different sources of calcium applied to the soil, compared to the foliar application, on the content of calcium in the soil, leaves and fruits, on yield and fruit quality of ‘Fuji’ apple trees. The following treatments were tested: control, soil application of calcium chloride, gypsum, Nitrabor®, hydrated lime and pulp sludge, and foliar application of calcium chloride. For all sources in the soil, 80 kg of calcium ha-1 year-1 were applied. For the foliar treatment, ten sprays with 0.4 % of calcium chloride were performed. The experiment was conducted in two seasons (2008/2009 and 2009/2010), in a complete randomized blocks design, with four replicates and two apple trees per plot. Even in a soil with high calcium content, the sources of calcium increase the calcium content in the soil and leaves, as well as the firmness of apples stored for 90 days. The use of gypsum and pulp sludge increase the calcium content in the flesh of ‘Fuji’ apples after two successive applications (2009/2010). The sources of calcium applied to the soil can replace the leaf application commonly used in apple orchards, in order to reduce production costs, provided there is no water restriction in the orchard.

Apple Quality and Calcium Content as Affected by Fertilizer Treatment

“…The highest Ca content in apple leaves and fruits was determined in variant 4, where the method of Ca fertilizer application implied a combination of application of CAN through soil and Folifertil Ca treatment through leaves, and then in variant 3 where Ca fertilizer was applied exclusively through soil. In variant 2, where fertilizer was applied only through leaves, Ca content in leaves and fruits was considerably lower, from which can be concluded the fact that nutrition through soil contributes more to the accumulation of Ca in apple fruits, and which is compatible with results of many studies that have examined this issue [17][18]. The main advantage of Ca nutrition through soil is that the Ca present in soil as divalent cation (Ca 2+ ) easily enters the root apoplast along with mass flow of water and follows apoplastic or symplastic pathways to the xylem [19], while Ca nutrition through the leaf is complex and depends on many factors, primarily on morphological and anatomical characteristics of leaves and forms of Ca fertilizers.…”

Correction of Potassium Fertigation Rate of Apple Tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) in Central Russia during the Growing Season

“…To a large extent, the solution to this problem is facilitated by foliar fertilization with calcium preparations during the growing season [ 44 ]. However, according to many studies, not leaf treatments but soil calcium plays a more significant role in forming calcium reserves in plant organs [ 18 ]. Moreover, foliar calcium treatments do not always positively affect calcium fruit status, which increases the value of soil calcium absorption [ 45 ].…”

“…The content of exchangeable calcium (like potassium) is relatively high in chernozem soil. However, calcium absorption is often depressed because of relatively high concentrations of potassium [ 18 ]. The growing season in the Tambov region usually begins near the end of April, and late-season apple cultivars are harvested at the end of September–beginning of November.…”

Aplikasi Kalsium dan NAA untuk Mengendalikan Getah Kuning Buah Manggis (Garcinia mangostana L.)

“…Perlakuan dosis Ca, konsentrasi NAA serta kombinasi keduanya memiliki pengaruh yang sama terhadap bobot buah dan bagianbagiannya (Tabel 6). Menurut Danner et al, (2015) Kurniawan et al (2016).…”