Effects of rootstocks on leaf nutrient concentration of selected apple (Malus domestica L. Borkh) cultivars at Gircha, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

A superimposed experiment was conducted at Gircha, Chencha district, Southern Ethiopia to determine the effect of four rootstocks on leaf nutrient concentration of five apple cultivars. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on leaf nutrient concentrations were collected and analyzed using SAS software. Results revealed that scion-rootstock interaction significantly (p<0.05) affected leaf nutrients (nitrogen -N, phosphorus -P, potassium -K, calcium-Ca and magnesium -Mg) contents. The maximum N (2.32%), P (0.43%), K (2.09%), Ca (1.88%) and Mg (0.45%) were recorded for combination of Local + Saturn, Local + Scarlet, Begidu + Scarlet, TT-Gala + Mlerose and TT-Gala + Scarlet, respectively; while the lowest values of N (1.3%), P (0.12%), K (1.02%), Ca (0.42%) and Mg (0.11%), were recorded for the combination of Gircha + Saturn, Gircha + Saturn, Begidu + Nela, Gircha + Mlerose and Gircha + Mlerose, respectively. Under Gircha soil condition, Mlerose, Saturn, Alkmen and Scarlett O'Hara cultivars grafted on Begidu, TT-Gala and Local rootstocks were confirmed better in acceptable leaf nutrient concentration. Based on leaf nutrient concentrations TT-Gala, Begidu and Local rootstocks were selected as best compatible with most cultivars grafted.