Multiyear field trials to balance the nutrition of nitrogen and potassium for ‘Conference’ pear

A series of multiyear trials, the longest of which continued for 12 consecutive years, describes the impact of fertilization or fertigation on total yield and fruit quality of ‘Conference’ pears.
The trials focused on nitrogen (N) and potassium (K), the most important nutritional elements for this pear cultivar.
The impact of climate conditions on the uptake of nutrients is distinct and hard to correct if orchards cannot be fertigated.
Excesses of either N or K can be detrimental for fruit quality and should be avoided.
Soil levels of K started only to decrease below the optimal levels after eight years without fertilizer inputs.
Due to the fact that repairing actions are slow and because the weather conditions are sometimes unpredictable, growers have to closely follow up and pay sufficient yearly attention in order take the right decisions on timing and amount of fertilizer to amend.
Data of soil, leaf and fruit analyses are key inputs in this decision process.

VIII International Symposium on Mineral Nutrition of Fruit Crops

A. Gomand, J. Vercammen, V. Siongers, D. Bylemans

nitrogen, potassium, pear quality

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2018.1217.30