Articles
A NUTRITIONAL SURVEY OF KIWI ORCHARDS IN NORTHERN ITALY
Sampling sites were selected to investigate the main fertility features in the area.
Macro and micro nutrients in leaf and soil samples were measured in order to examine the influence that nutrient soil composition had on growth and yield.
After studying the most suitable time for the collection of leaf samples and their best position on the shoots, the chemical analysis of both leaves and soils were carried out following analytical procedures including colorimetric, flame emission and atomic absorption methods.
Soil pHs were found to be mostly sub-alkaline due to line contents; both soil and leaf test results did not show any particular macro and micro nutrient deficiencies.
The different growth and yield of the orchards under examination revealed no relation as to foliar and soil composition.
On comparing soil analysis data with leaf composition values, we found out that linear coefficient correlations were either low or not statistically significant.
Equally low resulted the correlations between the values of the different foliar nutrients of the same growing seasons, while correlations of the same leaf nutrients considered in two growing seasons were found satisfactory.
Finally the real nutrient removal was calculated and a guideline of low, medium and high levels of nutrients is provided.