Impact of partial root-zone drying and mulching on fruit quality and nutrient contents after storage of ‘Polka’ raspberries

The purpose of this research was to determine fruit quality and nutrient elements in raspberry fruits after applied water stress NDASH partial root-zone drying and mulching.
Macro- and micro-nutrients of fruits were analysed after storage.
The experiment was conducted in Kosovo (Pristina region) during 2014 and 2015 in a one- to two-year-old raspberry orchard of 1 ha using a nested experimental design.
Four levels of budget irrigation were studied: 100% ET (control) lateral, two laterals (TL), side lateral (SL), and without irrigation (WI). Each treatment contained 10 plants, of which five plants per treatment were mulched with wood chips (size 1-2 cm) at a 10 cm layer in first year of experiment while, 20 cm in second year.
Using two-way ANOVA we found significant changes in a series of fruit quality parameters and macro- and micro-nutrients.
Irrigation had significant effects on the number of fruits, fruit diameter, fruit length, fruit weight, pH, Brix, K, Ca, P, Mg, Mn, B, Fe, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni and Pb.
It should also be stressed that mulching caused significant changes in fruit weight, pH, Brix, K, Ca, P, Mg, Mn, B, Fe, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni and Pb.
It can be concluded that partial root-zone drying can be successfully applied to raspberry and besides is a water saving technique.

III International Symposium on Horticulture in Europe – SHE2016

K. Lepaja, E. Kullaj, L. Lepaja

‘Polka’, water stress, PRD, wood chips, stored

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1242.14