Articles
THE RELIABILITY OF THE ESTABLISHED CRITICAL LEAF NITROGEN CONCENTRATION IN OLIVE ORCHARDS
Article number
868_25
Pages
209 – 212
Language
English
Abstract
The use of leaf analysis as a tool for the assessment of the nutritional status of olive orchards (Olea europaea L.) has been made possible, as in other fruit species, through the establishment of leaf concentration reference values for each of the essential elements.
Nitrogen (N) deficiency is accepted to occur in olive trees when the leaf N concentration drops below 1.4% N (% dry matter). Excess or toxicity N thresholds are not established so far, because of the fast transport of the excess N in leaves to other storage organs.
The results of several experiments dealing with N fertilization, carried out with both young and mature plants, raise doubts about the accuracy of the established N deficiency threshold level, due to the lack of effects observed in supposedly N-deficient trees on yield and vegetative growth parameters.
On the other hand, results suggest a new excess threshold, above which fruit quality decreases and adverse effects on the horticultural performance of the tree can be observed.
According to these preliminary data, we suggest that the deficiency threshold could be located between 1.22 and 1.35% N, whereas an excess threshold of approximately 1.7% N can be suggested.
Above this N concentration negative effects on flower and oil quality occur.
Nitrogen (N) deficiency is accepted to occur in olive trees when the leaf N concentration drops below 1.4% N (% dry matter). Excess or toxicity N thresholds are not established so far, because of the fast transport of the excess N in leaves to other storage organs.
The results of several experiments dealing with N fertilization, carried out with both young and mature plants, raise doubts about the accuracy of the established N deficiency threshold level, due to the lack of effects observed in supposedly N-deficient trees on yield and vegetative growth parameters.
On the other hand, results suggest a new excess threshold, above which fruit quality decreases and adverse effects on the horticultural performance of the tree can be observed.
According to these preliminary data, we suggest that the deficiency threshold could be located between 1.22 and 1.35% N, whereas an excess threshold of approximately 1.7% N can be suggested.
Above this N concentration negative effects on flower and oil quality occur.
Authors
C. Molina-Soria, R. Fernández-Escobar
Keywords
olive fertilization, leaf analysis, nitrogen deficiency, nitrogen toxicity
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