Vegetative growth, fruit weight, yield and leaf mineral content of plum grown on acidic soil

Abstract

The experiment was established at a spacing of 4 m x 2 m. Ten plum cultivars were grafted on the vegetative rootstocks 'Belosljiva' (Prunus domestica L.). Until the fifth and the sixth year after planting, the vegetative growth, fruit weight (FW), and yield properties were affected by the cultivar. The FW was the highest in 'Cacanska Rana' ('CRa'). 'Cacanska Najbolja' ('CNa') had the highest one-year-old shoot length (SL). 'Stanley' ('STa') was the most productive cultivar in 2006 and 'Cacanska Rodna' ('CRo') in 2007. Yield efficiency (YE) was the highest for 'CRo'. Significant differences were observed among cultivars for leaf macronutrient [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg)] and micronutrients [iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), boron (B)] levels at 120 days after fool bloom (DAFB). According to the Sigma DOP index, 'CRa' and 'STa' showed the best balanced macronutrient and micronutrient values, respectively. The leaf Mn, Fe and N content was significantly correlated with SL, FW, and YE.