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Interpretive Summaries:
1997 - Potassium Fertigation of High Density Apple Orchards
1996 - Potassium Fertigation of High Density Apple Orchards
Potassium Fertigation of High Density Apple Orchards, 1997
This project has been investigating K deficiency in high density apple orchards in the Okanagan Valley for the last three years. Drip irrigation in these coarse textured soils aggravates the K deficiency problem, but fertigation has been shown to correct it. Regular application of K with the irrigation water maintained adequate K in the soil solution beneath the drip emitters and kept K at adequate levels in the apple leaves throughout the growing season. Potassium increased fruit size and did not affect fruit quality at harvest, nor during storage. Growers have been reluctant to fertilize apples with K, because of reports that it affects calcium (Ca) nutrition of the fruit and may cause a loss of quality during storage. However, in this study K did not affect fruit Ca content or storage disorders associated with low Ca levels. This studied has successfully shown K fertigation will help Okanagan growers produce higher yielding, better quality apples. BC-09
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