Nutrient Content with Different Fertilizer Management and Influence on Yield and Fruit Quality in Apple cv. Gala

Abstract

Assessing a plant’s nutritional status and fertilizer rates and types that can optimize fruit quality and yield are critical in intensive apple orchards. The aim of this work was to identify correlations between nutrients in the different organs that allow the early diagnosis of the nutritional status and to assess the impact on the optimal nutrient content in apple leaves, as well as in the yield and quality of chemical and organic fertilization. Five orchards of ‘Gala’ were fertilized with different levels of NPK over a period of four years. Macro and micronutrients of buds, flowers, 45 and 90–110 days after full bloom (DAFB) leaves and 60 DAFB and 15 days before harvest (DBH) fruits were determined. Boron was the only element for which strong correlations, 0.7 < r < 0.9, were observed between all organ pairs. The fertilization treatments did not affect the nutrient concentrations in the leaves of 90–110 DAFB other than P, Ca and Mg and did not affect the macronutrients in the fruit. In one of the five orchards, the yield increased by 26% with double fertilization compared to standard fertilization and, for the other four orchards, the impact depended on the year. Fruit size was more related to crop load than to fertilization and TSS and firmness were not affected by the type or amount of fertilizers. Replacing part of the chemical fertilizer with organic materials did not affect productivity or fruit quality.

Spatial and compositional variations in fruit characteristics of papaya (Carica papayacv. Tainung No. 2) during ripening

“…The decreases of the elements had also been shown in various fruits, including papaya (Chukwuka et al, 2013) and apple fruit (Mota et al ., 2022; Nachtigall and Dechen, 2006). In apple pulp, when comparing fruits approximately 60 and 120 days after full bloom for the elements N, P, K, Mg, and S, there is a slight decrease, but Ca, Fe, Cu, Mn, and B contents had no significant differences (Mota et al, 2022). In papaya pulp, Ca, K, P, and Mg decreased to 75.56%, 38.67%, 66.46%, and 50.00%, respectively, at the full-ripe stage, compared to the unripe stage.…”

“…In this study, all elements except N at the stem end decreased or maintained at the full-ripe stage, despite different patterns at the half-ripe stage among fruit parts. The decreases of the elements had also been shown in various fruits, including papaya (Chukwuka et al, 2013) and apple fruit (Mota et al, 2022;Nachtigall and Dechen, 2006). In apple pulp, when comparing fruits approximately 60 and 120 days after full bloom for the elements N, P, K, Mg, and S, there is a slight decrease, but Ca, Fe, Cu, Mn, and B contents had no significant differences (Mota et al, 2022).…”

Influence of cultivar and fertilization treatment on the yield and leaf nutrients content of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.)

“…According to Ref. [ 37 ], when fertilisation levels were doubled, only one orchard demonstrated consistent yield improvements. The time of year had an effect on the yield in response to fertilisation in the other four orchards.…”

Spatial and Compositional Variations in Fruit Characteristics of Papaya (Carica papaya cv. Tainung No. 2) during Ripening

“…In this study, all elements except N at the stem-end decreased or were maintained at the full-ripe stage, despite different patterns at the half-ripe stage among fruit parts. The decreases in the elements have also been shown in various fruits, including papaya [ 12 ] and apple fruit [ 33 , 34 ]. In apple pulp, when fruits are compared approximately 60 and 120 days after full bloom for the elements N, P, K, Mg, and S, there is a slight decrease, but Ca, Fe, Cu, Mn, and B contents had no significant differences [ 34 ].…”

“…The decreases in the elements have also been shown in various fruits, including papaya [ 12 ] and apple fruit [ 33 , 34 ]. In apple pulp, when fruits are compared approximately 60 and 120 days after full bloom for the elements N, P, K, Mg, and S, there is a slight decrease, but Ca, Fe, Cu, Mn, and B contents had no significant differences [ 34 ]. In papaya pulp, Ca, K, P, and Mg decreased to 75.56%, 38.67%, 66.46%, and 50.00%, respectively, at the full-ripe stage, compared to the unripe stage.…”