ISHS Acta Horticulturae 347: II International Symposium on Integrated Fruit Production
SOIL FERTILITY: A ROLE FOR FERTIGATION |
| Author: | N.A. Hipps |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1993.347.20 |
| Abstract:
IFP requires good soil management which should conserve soil fertility and structure, maintain high harvest yield and satisfactory fruit quality with the minimum use of agro-chemicals. Long-term use of residual herbicides at Horticulture Research International (HRI) East Malling reduced soil fertility. Soil maintained bare under herbicide had lower concentrations of organic matter and total nitrogen compared to soil kept under grass. In a growth test, apple seedlings grown in soil taken from under grass grew significantly better than those in soil (confirmed as herbicide-free) which had been maintained bare. With fertigation by trickle irrigation applied to the tree root zone it is possible to maintain good harvest yields of fruit, whilst growing the trees in narrow bare soil strips, with grassed alleyways, thus reducing herbicide use. In another trial at HRI, East Malling, fertigation with a soluble 19:6:6 fertiliser (Kristalon, lilac) at rates between 10 and 80 g N per tree was tested. Fertigation at rates >20 g N/tree reduced soil pH in the vicinity of the dripper compared to untreated soil, and this reduction in pH was related to the increase in rate of fertiliser application. Bicarbonate extractable soil P concentration was increased in the 0–45 cm horizon at the highest rate of fertigation. At lower rates, the extractable P was increased within 0–15 cm and/or 15–30 cm. Broadcasting the same fertiliser without irrigation increased P concentration within the 0–15 cm horizon only. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
