Articles
FERTILIZATION METHOD AND LIMING RATE EFFECTS ON PEACH TREE GROWTH AND SOIL PH
Article number
254_54
Pages
323 – 328
Language
Abstract
Fertigation with N has been reported to be an efficient method to deliver N to peach trees.
For most N sources however, a marked decrease in soil pH may occur in poorly buffered soils.
The result can be aluminum toxicity and poor plant performance.
A study was initiated to compare the efficacy of fertigating with different N sources on peach trees grown in an acid loamy sand across three lime rates.
Treatments were applied to two-year-old ‘Harvester’ trees on Nemaguard rootstock in March 1986. The experiment was a factorial arrangement of 3 fertilizer treatments by 3 lime rates.
There were ten whole tree replications per treatment.
Fertilizer treatments were 1) urea broadcasted three times a year in April, May and June at 150, 300 and 250 g of N/tree/year for 1986, 1987 and 1988, respectively, 2) CaNO3 injected or 3) urea injected into the drip irrigation system bimonthly April through Sept.
The fertigated N rate was equivalent to 60% that of the broadcast N rate.
The lime rates were 0, 2200, or 4400 kg/ha of 100 mesh lime surface applied.
Trunk diameter after 1 year was greater for fertigated treatments than broadcast, but for urea this was only evident where lime was applied.
There was no difference in plant growth between treatments in the second year.
Soil pH increased linearly with lime rate and with CaNO3 compared to other fertilization treatments.
Lowest soil pH after 2 years occurred with the broadcast treatment at the low lime rate (4.9) and highest pH with CaNO3 at the high lime rate (6.5).
For most N sources however, a marked decrease in soil pH may occur in poorly buffered soils.
The result can be aluminum toxicity and poor plant performance.
A study was initiated to compare the efficacy of fertigating with different N sources on peach trees grown in an acid loamy sand across three lime rates.
Treatments were applied to two-year-old ‘Harvester’ trees on Nemaguard rootstock in March 1986. The experiment was a factorial arrangement of 3 fertilizer treatments by 3 lime rates.
There were ten whole tree replications per treatment.
Fertilizer treatments were 1) urea broadcasted three times a year in April, May and June at 150, 300 and 250 g of N/tree/year for 1986, 1987 and 1988, respectively, 2) CaNO3 injected or 3) urea injected into the drip irrigation system bimonthly April through Sept.
The fertigated N rate was equivalent to 60% that of the broadcast N rate.
The lime rates were 0, 2200, or 4400 kg/ha of 100 mesh lime surface applied.
Trunk diameter after 1 year was greater for fertigated treatments than broadcast, but for urea this was only evident where lime was applied.
There was no difference in plant growth between treatments in the second year.
Soil pH increased linearly with lime rate and with CaNO3 compared to other fertilization treatments.
Lowest soil pH after 2 years occurred with the broadcast treatment at the low lime rate (4.9) and highest pH with CaNO3 at the high lime rate (6.5).
Publication
Authors
K. Patten, G. Nimr, E. Neuendorff
Keywords
Online Articles (61)