Abstract
Soil Zn extracted by 0.25M MgCl2 or DTPA as an index of Zn availability was compared to Zn or P:Zn concentration in leaves for 40 commercial apple orchards in southern British Columbia. Sampled trees included a wide range of ages and cultivar/rootstock combinations. Leaves were sampled from the midportion of current season's shoots at four times; May–June 1984, July 1984, May 1985 and July 1985. At the same time the severity of the four Zn deficiency symptoms, rosetting, blind bud, little leaf and chlorosis was assessed. Little relationship was found between soil and leaf Zn measures, except in July 1984, when both terminal leaf Zn and P:Zn concentrations varied directly with 0.25M MgCl2 extractable soil Zn. Soil Zn extracted by 0.25M MgCl2 was more closely related to severity of deficiency symptoms on the trees at all four samples dates than was DTPA-soil Zn or leaf Zn concentration. Blindbud was the most useful indicator of deficiency in samples collected in May whereas chlorosis was the most useful one in July.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anonymous, 1986. Tree fruit Production Guide for Interior Districts. British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Victoria, B.C., Canada.
Baker DE and Amacher MC, 1982. Nickel, copper, zinc and cadmium. In Methods of Soil Analysis, part 2 (2nd edition). Eds AL Page et al. Agronomy 9, pp. 323–336. Am. Soc. Agron, Madison, Wis.
Haq AU and Miller MH, 1972. Prediction of available soil Zn, Cu and Mn using chemical extractants. Agron. J 64, 779–782.
Li JCR, 1964. Statistical Inference 1. Edwards Bros. Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 658 p.
Lindsay WL, 1972. Zinc in soils and plant nutrition. Adv. Agron. 24, 147–186.
Lindsay WL and Norvell WA, 1978. Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 42, 421–428.
McKeague JA, 1978. Manual on Soil Sampling and Methods of Analysis. (2nd edition) Can. Soc. Soil Science, Ottawa, 212 p.
Neilsen D, Hoyt PB and MacKenzie AF, 1986. Distribution of soil Zn fractions in British Columbia Interior orchard soils. Can. J. Soil Sci. 66, 445–454.
Neilsen D, Hoyt PB and MacKenzie AF, 1987. Measurement of plant-available zinc in British Columbia orchard soils. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 18, 161–186.
Orphanos PI, 1982. Spray and soil application of zinc to apples. J. Hort Sci. 57, 259–266.
Shear CB and Faust M, 1980. Nutritional ranges in deciduous tree fruits and nuts. Hort. Review 2, 142–163.
Snedecor GW and Cochran WG, 1980. Statistical Methods, 7th Edition. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, 507 p.
Stewart JA and Berger KC, 1965. Estimation of available soil Zn using magnesium chloride as extractant. Soil Sci. 100, 244–249.
Wear JJ and Cope JT, 1976. Relationship between soil test values and analysis of pecan leaves taken at three dates. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anall. 7, 241–252.
Woodbridge CG, 1954. Zinc deficiency in fruit trees in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Can. J. Agric. Sci 34, 545–551.
Zhou HJ, Tung VA, Diao FG and Yang RL, 1981. The critical level of zinc for deficiency and responses to different sources of zinc sprays for rosetted trees of the apple cultivar Ralls. Scientia Agricultura Sinica 6, 65–70.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Neilsen, D., Hoyp, P.B. & MacKenzie, A.F. Comparison of soil tests and leaf analysis as methods of diagnosing Zn deficiency in British Columbia apple orchards. Plant Soil 105, 47–53 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371142
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371142