RESPONSE OF YOUNG GRAFTED SWEET CHERRY TREES TO SOIL TYPE, REGULATED DEFICIT IRRIGATION AND N-APPLICATION

Cherry dwarfing rootstocks are presently of great importance in the industry of this commodity.
The investigation was carried out during 2000-2004 in conditions of lysimeters (3.0 x 2.0 x 1.0 m) with ‘Stella’ cherry trees, grafted on Grand Manil – GM₉, on three basic soil types in Bulgaria – alluvial-meadow soil (Fluvisol), cinnamonic-forest soil (Luvisol-chromic) and smolnitza (Vertisol). By filling lysimeters with soil pre-planting fertilizer at level P₁₅₀ and K₁₅₀ was put.
The effects of nitrogen fertilization and deficit irrigation upon soil water potential (Ψ_soil), the electric conductivity of lysimetric waters (EC), midday stem water potential (Ψ_stem), stomatal conductance (g_s), photosynthesis (Ph), growth, and yield were investigated.
In the pre-planting application of PK + N, an induced plant water stress, as a result of a Ψ_soil and Ψ_stem decrease, was established.
This led to reduction in the rates of the main physiological processes – Ph, g_s and growth depression.
In Fluvisol, this negative effect of the N-application rate was not noted.
The assessed RDI regime proved adequate for the Fluvisol and insufficient for the Luvisol-chromic and Vertisol.

I Balkan Symposium on Fruit Growing

M. Gospodinova, D. Dochev, V. Djouvinov, Z. Zlatev, I. Kirkova, G. Stoimenov

sweet cherry, irrigation, fertilization, soil types, leaf and soil water potential

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.825.67