Fruit mineral removal rates from New Zealand apple (Malus domestica) orchards in the Nelson region

Abstract

Total picked yields and whole fruit mineral analyses just before harvest were recorded from seven apple (Malus domestica) orchards over the Nelson region of New Zealand over 2–3 years from mature trees of ‘Braeburn’, ‘Cox’, ‘Fuji’, and ‘Royal Gala’ as part of the Nelson Focus Orchard Project. Estimated mean fruit nutrient removal rates for a 70t ha^‐1 picked yield of apples were 82 kg ha^‐1 potassium, 31 kg ha^‐1 nitrogen, 7kg ha^‐1 phosphorus, and both calcium and magnesium at c. 4kg ha^‐1 per year. These results are discussed in relation to fertiliser inputs and previous reports of nutrient removal for other cultivars and locations, both in New Zealand and overseas.

Key words:

• fruit mineral content
• nitrogen
• potassium
• phosphorus