Articles
Nitrogen fertilizer effect on cranberry fruit quality
Article number
1432_21
Pages
153 – 158
Language
English
Abstract
American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is a fruit of great economic and nutritional importance in North America.
Premium prices are paid for fruit quality ranking high in berry firmness, total anthocyanins (Tacy), and low fruit rot.
Nitrogen (N) is the most important element that influences both vegetative growth and fruiting in cranberry production.
While many factors such as cultivar, age and vigor of vines are important, soil fertility is one of the most important factors impacting yield and fruit quality.
Nitrogen fertilizer rates have been determined for the first-generation hybrids such as ‘Stevens’ (ST), with emphasis on yield.
Recommendations on fruit quality, particularly for the second-generation hybrids such as ‘Mullica Queen’ (MQ), ‘Crimson Queen’ (CQ) and ’DeMoranville’ (DeM) are lacking.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of N rates on the fruit quality of second-generation hybrids.
Fertilizer N rates were applied at 45, 67, 90 and 114 kg ha‑1 in each cultivar.
Our results showed an increase in fruit rot and a reduction in fruit firmness with an increase in N rates.
Cultivar MQ and DeM were firmer than ST and CQ. Higher N rates resulted in a lower brix content for MQ, DeM and ST but the effect on CQ was not clear.
Titratable acidity (TA) was not affected by N levels, but CQ and ST had the highest and lowest TA, respectively.
The highest N level increased total anthocyanins (Tacy) in all cultivars except ST. Our results suggest that exceeding N levels beyond 45 kg ha‑1 reduces fruit quality.
In addition, the excessive N rates predisposed the fruit to cranberry fruit rot.
Premium prices are paid for fruit quality ranking high in berry firmness, total anthocyanins (Tacy), and low fruit rot.
Nitrogen (N) is the most important element that influences both vegetative growth and fruiting in cranberry production.
While many factors such as cultivar, age and vigor of vines are important, soil fertility is one of the most important factors impacting yield and fruit quality.
Nitrogen fertilizer rates have been determined for the first-generation hybrids such as ‘Stevens’ (ST), with emphasis on yield.
Recommendations on fruit quality, particularly for the second-generation hybrids such as ‘Mullica Queen’ (MQ), ‘Crimson Queen’ (CQ) and ’DeMoranville’ (DeM) are lacking.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of N rates on the fruit quality of second-generation hybrids.
Fertilizer N rates were applied at 45, 67, 90 and 114 kg ha‑1 in each cultivar.
Our results showed an increase in fruit rot and a reduction in fruit firmness with an increase in N rates.
Cultivar MQ and DeM were firmer than ST and CQ. Higher N rates resulted in a lower brix content for MQ, DeM and ST but the effect on CQ was not clear.
Titratable acidity (TA) was not affected by N levels, but CQ and ST had the highest and lowest TA, respectively.
The highest N level increased total anthocyanins (Tacy) in all cultivars except ST. Our results suggest that exceeding N levels beyond 45 kg ha‑1 reduces fruit quality.
In addition, the excessive N rates predisposed the fruit to cranberry fruit rot.
Authors
B. Makeredza, P. Jeranyama, G. Mupambi, L. Uppala
Keywords
anthocyanins, cranberry, fertilizer nitrogen, fruit rot, Brix content, fruit quality, titratable acidity, second-generation hybrids
Online Articles (32)