Liming and application of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,and boron on a young plantation of chestnut

MARGARIDA ARROBAS; SANDRA AFONSO; ISABEL Q. FERREIRA; JOSÉ MOUTINHO-PEREIRA; CARLOS M. CORREIA; M. ÂNGELO RODRIGUES

Liming and application of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,and boron on a young plantation of chestnut

Authors: MARGARIDA ARROBAS, SANDRA AFONSO, ISABEL Q. FERREIRA, JOSÉ MOUTINHO-PEREIRA, CARLOS M. CORREIA, M. ÂNGELO RODRIGUES

Abstract: European chestnut is the most important cash crop in the highlands of NE Portugal. However, limited data on cropping technique are available to help farmers make decisions. This work is motivated by the lack of data related to chestnut response to fertilizer application. It reports results from a field fertilization trial consisting of the application of a combination of lime (L), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and boron (B), namely LNPKB, NPKB, -NPKB, N-PKB, NP-KB, and NPK-B. Seedlings of chestnut were planted in June 2013 and grown for four growing seasons. Plant height, trunk diameter, and pruning wood were assessed every year and used as indicators of tree crop growth. Elemental leaf analysis and other tools [SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter; Field Scout CM 1000 NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) meter, and the OS-30p+ fluorometer] were used to assess plant nutritional stresses. In January 2017 soil samples were collected at three depths (0-5, 5-10, and 10-20 cm) to determine several soil fertility parameters. The nonapplication of K and B reduced the tree crop growth and pruning residues. Leaf analysis revealed leaf K and B concentrations respectively in the NP?KB and NPK?B treatments to be in the deficient range previously established for chestnut. SPAD readings and NDVI detected the reduced availability of N associated with the -NPKB treatment but not the reduced plant growth associated with NP-KB or NPK-B treatments. The dark adaptation protocols of F_V/F_M, F_V/F₀, and OJIP measurements performed with the OS-30p+ fluorometer failed to diagnose the nutrient stresses detected by leaf analysis or the reduction in plant growth.

Keywords: Castanea sativa, leaf analysis, soil testing, SPAD readings, normalized difference vegetation index, chlorophyll fluorescence

Full Text: PDF