The effect of different water and nutrient management strategies on the calcium content in apple fruit
Date
2007-03
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
Production of quality fruit is the main aim in horticultural crops. Numerous research reports
stress the important role of calcium (Ca) in maintaining firmness and preventing the
development of physiological disorders in fruit. This study focused on the effect of water and
nutrient management strategies, rootstocks and foliar Ca applications on fruit Ca content.
Final Ca content/concentration in apple fruit at harvest did not differ significantly between
treatments water with micro jets (hand nutrition), water and nutrients with fertigation, or
water and nutrients with pulsating drip when applied to ‘Brookfield Gala’ trees in third leaf,
on two rootstocks (M793 and M7).
In the second trial, three Ca levels were applied to ‘Brookfield Gala’ trees through a pulsating
drip system during three phenological periods to evaluate the effect on Ca uptake of the fruit.
During the second season, application of high Ca levels for the period full bloom to harvest
gave a higher fruit Ca concentration than with applications of standard or low Ca.
Description
Thesis (MscAgric (Horticulture))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Horticulture, Theses -- Horticulture, Dissertations -- Agriculture, Theses -- Agriculture, Apples -- Water requirement, Apples -- Nutrition, Calcium, Calcium fertilizers, Orchards -- Management