Nutrient Management in High Density Apple Orchards – A Review

Abstract

All plants require a sufficient supply of essential nutrients to reach their potential, and deficiency of any single nutrient is enough to limit yield. Supply of adequate quantities of nutrients is essential for sustainable high yield and good quality fruits over a long period. The nutritional requirements are different during the vegetative and reproductive growth stages, thus these requirements must be met as per their needs. Nutritional requirements are ascertained through soil chemical analysis, leaf analysis and loss of nutrients through crop production. Due to the effective role of macro and micronutrients in orchard productivity, nutrient management has become as important as other cultural practices in high density orchards. Nutrient management is simply based on 4R's concept i.e right source, right rate, right time and right method. The phenological period and frequency of uptake determine the application time and the quantity of nutrient to be applied. Different methods of fertilization are used in fruit production, including fertilization with mineral fertilizers (conventional type), fertigation, foliar nutrition and a range of other methods. Due to various reasons, in high density orchards priority is given to fertigation and foliar nutrition. The high effectiveness of fertigation results from the possibility of applying optimal concentrations of fertilizing solutions and a

Evaluating the effects of different nutrient management strategies on apple (malus pumila) in intensive orchards of Kazakhstan. Results from a 4-year study

“…The south and southeast of the Republic, where intensive orchards are concentrated, are divided into 4-5 natural-ecological zones, which differ by climatic conditions and different topography [5]. An obligatory element of the intensive orchard is a drip irrigation system, which allows accurate and correct irrigation of the orchard, along with the introduction of mineral nutrition (fertigation), necessary for proper development and fruiting [6].…”

Apple orchard waste recycling and valorization of valuable product-A review

“…Additionally, its operating system includes living organisms, and several conditions are required for their existence and formation of high-quality vermicompost. In general, a temperature range of 18-67 , pH of 5.9-8.3, and a moisture content of 10.68% are required [65]. Thus, those obstacles limit the implementation of large-scale commercialization that needs to be overcome.…”