Abstract
Intensive methods of orchard cultivation require more effective ways of irriga-tion and fertilization. Recently apple (Malus ×domestica) orchards in the Trentino area of northeastern Italy have converted from traditional sprinkler irrigation to drip irrigation, both with or without fertigation. An experimental field trial was started at the end of 2008 in a ‘Golden Delicious’/M9 orchard at Tres (Province of Trento) to develop specific fertilization plans, in order to limit fertilizer input and reduce nutrient runoff into waterways. A factorial experiment with two fertilizer treatments (soil application of granular fertilizers or fertigation through drip emitters) and two water application rates (1500 or 3000 m3/ha/yr) was established. Compared with granular fertilizer, fertigation significantly increased leaf greenness, increased leaf nitrogen (N) concentration, and reduced phosphorus (P) concentration in the fruits at harvest. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values, a measure of canopy growth, were affected by both fertilization and water rate. Fertigation, through the end of July, enhanced NDVI values compared to granular fertilization, while NDVI values during the growing season had variable responses to water application rate. Application of the higher water rate decreased sugar and firmness values of fruits. The reduced water application rate decreased the concentrations of N, boron (B), and calcium (Ca) in the fruits, and increased fruit magnesium (Mg) concentration. The results of this three-year Trentino apple trial suggest a generally positive effect of fertigation on enhanced effectiveness of fertilization and improved fruit quality. Further research on the interaction of fertilizer and water management is required to fully develop the scientific basis for fertigation recommendations for local growers
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
Fertigation significantly increased apple leaf greenness versus granular fertilizer.
- Taxon
- apple
Malus domesticat0 - Direction
- increasede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared with granular fertilizer, fertigation significantly increased leaf greenness”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertigation increased leaf nitrogen concentration versus granular fertilizer.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Direction
- increasede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared with granular fertilizer, fertigation significantly increased leaf greenness, increased leaf nitrogen (N) concentration”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertigation reduced fruit phosphorus concentration at harvest.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Direction
- reducede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Compared with granular fertilizer, fertigation significantly increased leaf greenness, increased leaf nitrogen (N) concentration, and reduced phosphorus (P) concentration in the fruits at harvest”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Fertigation increased NDVI through late July versus granular fertilization.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Fertigation, through the end of July, enhanced NDVI values compared to granular fertilization”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Seasonal NDVI responses to water application rate varied.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“NDVI values during the growing season had variable responses to water application rate”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Higher irrigation rate decreased fruit sugar values.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Application of the higher water rate decreased sugar and firmness values of fruits”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Higher irrigation rate decreased fruit firmness.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Application of the higher water rate decreased sugar and firmness values of fruits”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced irrigation rate decreased fruit nitrogen concentration.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The reduced water application rate decreased the concentrations of N, boron (B), and calcium (Ca) in the fruits”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced irrigation rate decreased fruit boron concentration.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The reduced water application rate decreased the concentrations of N, boron (B), and calcium (Ca) in the fruits”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced irrigation rate decreased fruit calcium concentration.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Direction
- decreasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The reduced water application rate decreased the concentrations of N, boron (B), and calcium (Ca) in the fruits”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Reduced irrigation rate increased fruit magnesium concentration.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
- Direction
- increasede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The reduced water application rate decreased the concentrations of N, boron (B), and calcium (Ca) in the fruits, and increased fruit magnesium (Mg) concentration”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors interpret fertigation as improving fertilization effectiveness and fruit quality overall.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“a generally positive effect of fertigation on enhanced effectiveness of fertilization and improved fruit quality”
t0“APPLE TREE”
Claim · model-written summary
Further research on fertilizer and water management interactions is needed for local grower recommendations.
- Taxon
- appleMalus domesticat0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Further research on the interaction of fertilizer and water management is required to fully develop the scientific basis for fertigation recommendations for local growers”
t0“APPLE TREE”
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