IMPACT OF CULTIVAR ON THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE YOUNG APRICOT TREES (Prunus armeniaca L.)

Abstract

Mineral nutrition of apricot is very specific and depends on different factors such as soil fertility, soil pH, weather conditions, cultivars, rootstocks, fertilizers, age of trees etc. For these reasons, during 2008 and 2009 we evaluate nutrient status of five apricot cultivars (Vera, Aleksandar, Biljana, Harcot, Roxana) at 120 days after full bloom (DAFB) grown on acidic soil in the region of Čačak (Western Serbia). The results showed no statistically significant variations in the N, K and Ca content of apricot leaves among cultivars, as opposed to significant differences in the content of P, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B. The ΣDOP index revealed that the average content of all macro- and micronutrients was below the optimum, except that of P in both years and that of Mn and Cu in the first year of the study. The insufficient nutrient supply of the test apricot cultivars requires adjustment of fertiliser types and application rates to this soil type according to foliar analysis.

Keywords

• DOP index
• foliar analysis
• macro- and micronutrients
• ΣDOP