Effects of Increasing Doses of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium on the Uptake of Other Nutrients in Sweet Cherry Trees

ABSTRACT

In this study, positive and/or negative effects of different N, P, and K doses on nutrient uptake of 0900 Ziraat sweet cherry cultivar grafted on Gisela-5 rootstock was investigated. Different N (0, 50, 125, and 250 g N tree⁻¹), P (0, 25 (10.9 P), 50 (21.8 P), and 75 (32.7 P) g P₂O₅ tree⁻¹), K (0, 50 (41.5 K), 125 (103.7 K), and 250 (207.5 K) g K₂O tree⁻¹) doses were applied to cherry trees. Experiments were conducted in randomized complete blocks design with six replicates. Macro and micronutrients were provided at the same rate in all treatments. To determine the effects of treatments, leaf samples were collected 65–70 days after full bloom, and samples were analyzed for N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and B concentrations. N fertilization had positive effects on leaf N and Mn concentrations, but decreased leaf P, K, and B concentrations. P fertilization did not have any significant effects on uptake of any elements including P. K fertilization decreases leaf Ca, Mg, and Mn concentrations. Present findings revealed that increasing rates of N and K fertilizers hindered the uptake of some nutrients; therefore, attention should be paid while fertilizing with these elements.

KEYWORDS:

• Antagonistic effect
• Gisela 5
• leaf analysis
• synergistic effect
• 0900 Ziraat

Acknowledgments

The authors express their sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Zeki GOKALP (A Notarized-Certified English Translator and an expert in Agricultural Engineering) for his critical English review of the paper.