Seasonal Changes in Macronutrients in the Leaves and Fruit of Kiwiberry: Nitrogen Level and Cultivar Effects

ABSTRACT

Nutrient use efficiency and overall plant fertilization strategies are key issues in food production in increasingly adverse environmental conditions. The plant Actinidia arguta (Siebold et Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq. is a species that has increased cultivation in recent years. The aim of this study was to assess seasonal leaf macronutrient changes and the relationship between soil nitrogen (N) fertility and N, as well as the concentration of other leaf essential macronutrients. The experiment was conducted during the growing seasons of 2015–2016 and tested two cultivars: “Weiki” and “Geneva”. Soil N level had a significant impact on the concentration of all leaf macronutrients, except sulfur, in both cultivars. Leaf macronutrient concentration was significantly lower in 2015, which was characterized by a higher average temperature and lower precipitation than the long term averages. A clear downward trend for leaf N and potassium concentrations was observed during the vegetation period. In contrast, leaf calcium and magnesium concentrations increased gradually throughout the season, while phosphorus and sulfur concentration changes were more cultivar dependent. In the soil and climatic conditions in which study was conducted (Central Europe), a time from mid-July to mid-August seems to be the suitable for leaf sampling for diagnostic purposes. Fruit macronutrient composition was predominantly cultivar and year dependent.

KEYWORDS:

• Actinidia arguta
• open field experiment
• leaf macronutrient status
• tissue sampling

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) Poland, grant no. PBS3/A8/35/2015;National Centre for Research and Development (NCBiR) Poland, [grant no. PBS3/A8/35/2015.];