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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #133219
Title: INFLUENCE OF N, P, K, CA, AND MG RATES ON LEAF MACRONUTRIENT CONCENTRATION OF 'NAVAHO' BLACKBERRY

Author
item Spiers, James
item BRASWELL, JOHN - MS. COOPER EXT SERVICE

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2002
Publication Date: 10/1/2002
Citation: Spiers, J.M., Braswell, J.H. 2002. Influence of n, p, k, ca, and mg rates on leaf macronutrient concentration of 'navaho' blackberry. Acta Horticulture Proceedings 585:659-663.

Interpretive Summary: To determine the effects of deficient or toxic levels of fertilization on macronutrient uptake in blackberries, 'Navaho' plants were subjected to extremely low and high rates of major essential elements (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg). Plant toxicity and deficiency symptoms were more evident with N, K, and Mg fertilizer than with P and Ca treatments. High N fertilization caused plants to take up less K, Ca, and Mg and high K fertilization inhibited Ca and Mg uptake. Uptake of major elements and macronutrients were effected by fertilization of various elements. These results should benefit Research and Extension scientists.

Technical Abstract: 'Navaho' blackberry plants were grown in sand culture for two years and fertilized with solutions consisting of five macro nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) applied at three different rates (0 mg/l, control and 10X control). Foliar samples were collected at 4, 8, and 16 weeks after treatment initiation during the second growing season. The 10X N rate resulted in high leaf concentration of N and P but lower leaf concentrations of K, Ca, and Mg. High P rates increased leaf P only. The 10X K rate inhibited Ca and Mg uptake but increased the leaf contents of K. High Ca fertilization increased Ca leaf content and decreased the uptake of Mg. The 10X rate of Mg increased leaf Mg content but reduced the uptake of Mg. The 10X rate of Mg increased leaf Mg content but reduced the leaf content of Ca. Toxicity and deficiency systoms were more evident with the N, K, and Mg fertilizer treatments.