Irrigation frequency and quantity affect root and top growth of fertigated 'McIntosh' apple on M.9, M.26 and M.7 rootstock

Abstract

A study was undertaken in order to quantify the effects of rootstock and irrigation level on the rooting pattern of fertigated apple trees. A profile trench observation method was used to map the number and location of root intersections at two planes relative to drip emitters for NP-fertigated McIntosh apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh). Four replicates of all combinations of three rootstocks (M.9, M.26 and M.7, planted in 1990) and two irrigation treatments [F1 (daily, watered to field capacity) and F2 (weekly, watered to 50% available soil water capacity, imposed in 1991)] were investigated after the 1994 growing season. Dwarfing rootstocks and F2-irrigation had lower top vigour and yield per tree. Cumulative yield efficiency was greater for trees on dwarfing rootstock but was unaffected by irrigation treatment. Root numbers per observation plane paralleled rootstock vigour, being lowest for M.9 and greatest for M.7. No effect of irrigation on root number was observed. Root distribution was affected by an interaction between rootstock and irrigation treatment with average root location moving closer to the surface and emitter for the dwarfing rootstocks M.9 and M.26 but not for M.7 under F1-irrigation. Key words: Vigour, yield, drip emitter, root number and distribution

Response of high density apple orchards on coarsetextured soil to form of potassium applied by fertigation

“…In March 2003, after three complete growing seasons, soil samples were collected from every treatment and replicate as composites, comprised of three samples collected directly beneath the drip emitters located in the middle of each plot at 0-to 10-, 10-to 20-and 20-to 30-cm depths. Thus, samples represented conditions under drip-irrigation where soil chemical changes are most rapid and roots are concentrated (Neilsen et al 1997). Samples were oven dried at 55°C prior to determination of Ca, Mg and K via atomic absorption spectroscopy after extraction in 1M NH 4 OAc.…”

“…Such soils offer advantages to orchard production including rapid drainage, but are sensitive to management problems associated with their generally poor nutrient and water retention capacities (Ross et al 1985). Problems can be exacerbated by the shallow and concentrated rooting of trees on dwarfing rootstocks when drip-fertigated (Neilsen et al 1997), resulting in the development of nutrient deficiencies such as K, not normally observed for traditional, sprinkler-irrigated orchards with widely spaced trees.…”

Nutritional implications of biosolids and paper mulch applications in high density apple orchards

“…8 m 2 plot, annual application of 180 g N plot -1 (1440 g over 8 yr) represents a within-plot application rate of 167 kg N ha -1 yr -1 . If drip water applications occurred primarily within a 0.4-m radius around individual emitters, as previously observed in sandy soils (Neilsen et al 1997), the 12 emitters located within each plot would have wet a 6.0-m 2 area wherein fertilizer application rates would have approximated 300 kg N ha -1 yr -1 . In contrast, nutrients applied with biosolids twice during the study (July 1997 and2001) were not immediately available.…”

“…For example, N and first year P were readily available in irrigation water. Although fertigation application rates were expressed on a whole plot basis (Table 2), water distribution patterns for drip irrigated trees in sandy soils suggest unit area application rates would have been much higher since water was unlikely to have been distributed equally over the whole plot area (Neilsen et al 1997). For example, for the 10 .…”

Influence of Fertigation, Drip Irrigation and Foliar Nutrition on Productivity of Apple Trees, Fruit Quality and Soil Properties in Intensive Orchard of the Central Chernozem Region

“…Использование фертигации недостаточно изучено в России и особен-но в ЦЧР, тем более что на тяжелых почвах снижется ее эффективность [15]. Негативными последствиями фертигации может быть закисление почв, а также риск избыточного внесения элементов питания и т.д.…”