me essscrs OF (mama Feamzsa Humm'e‘s USED A5 STARTER sowmns WHEN AQPLEE‘D Ti?) Monmeaziscy‘ ‘ CHERRY mess AT pummc m2. - ' _ * 115653: for the Dogma ' of M. S. MECWGAN 'S'MJE 332.263 George Aivén Me Mag-2.2.2:, .53: .3953 . --.. .‘ .M c,_.- v» v . . o '. “ “"‘_.I ‘ .4. .. k p n. 0. ,c'_ l .. t . ‘r— 0‘ PJ . I ' r‘: 'l ‘r’. ‘ . u- ‘t f ‘ . . THESIS. j 1.. . '- ‘. .( . s ) .‘_‘_ .a .‘ V . ”a x 1 ' l ‘. J- . \’ -"' A . -.‘ ) ’ 1 ‘ 3 l - . a l \ 5' . ‘ . \ ' 3-." $ t, ' . 1 l'O‘J‘ l"\ ‘ I O ‘ This is to certifg that the thesis entitled The Effects of Certain Fertilizer Nutrients used as Starter Solutions when Applied to Montmorency Cherry Trees at Planting Time Date 0169 presented bg George Alvin McManus, Jr. has been accepted towards fulfillment of the requirements for M. S. Horticulture degree in Major professor A.L. Kenworthy May 18é 1953 ~ . “.‘... g A-“ R? l\ ~l' ‘tl‘l‘l’ THE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN FERTILIZER NUTRIENTS USED AS STARTER SOLUTIONS WHEN APPLIED TO MONTMORENCY CHERRY TREES AT PLANTING TIME By George Alvin McManus, Jr. A THESIS Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Horticulture Year 1953 l'lllll' lll \l ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to express his appreciation to the following for their help in carrying out this problem: To Dr. A. L. Kenworthy for his assistance in outlining the problem, carrying out the research work, and preparing this manuscript; to Dr. E. J. Benne and Mr. Ralph Bacon of the Agricultural Chemistry Department for their work in determining the composition of leaf samples; and to Dr. H. B. Tukey, Dr. G. P. Stein- bauer, and Dr. C. M. Harrison for their consultation and editorial assistance. The author also wishes to thank Mr. George McManus, Sr. of Traverse City, who provided the site and trees on which the eXperiment was conducted, and Mrs. Clara McManus for her help in taking growth measurements and typing this thesis. TABLE INTRODUCTION . e . . . . . REVIEW OF LITERATURE . . e PROCEDURE. 0 O O O O O O 0 RESULTS. e e e e e e e e e GPOWthe e e e e e e Leaf Composition. . OF CONTENTS Level of Nutrients in the Soil. DISCUSSION . e . e . . . . SWAW O O O O O O O O O 0 LITERATURE CITED . . . e e APPENDIX 0 O O O O O O O O Page 12 12 11L 23 28 32 33 35 INTRODUCTION An inadequate supply of certain nutrients at planting time may result in poor growth of fruit trees. However, applications of fertilizers at planting time are not commonly used because they often result in deleterious effects. A shortage of nutrient supply when the trees are first planted may be more detrimental than in later years because the roots of the young trees are severely pruned when removed from the nursery. Cherry trees usually fail to make as much terminal growth as apple or peach trees during the first year in the orchard. This shorter terminal growth has been believed to be associated with the removal of the carbohydrate supply by root pruning and to the inherent characteristics of the cherry tree. The reduction of the root system also reduces the absorption of nitrogen and other nutrients. However, many of the cherry orchards being planted in Michigan have been showing symptoms of nutrient deficiency during the first year after planting. Applications of fertilizers to correct a nutrient shortage are usually made during the dormant period following the season the trees are planted. The present experiment was established to eXplore some of the effects of using solutions of certain fertil- izers on young cherry trees at planting time. The primary objectives of the experiment were to determine the effects of such solutions upon the terminal growth of newly planted cherry trees and the prevention of the occurrence of deficiency symptoms during the season the trees were planted. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Tukey (18), working with soils of low fertility, ranked the effects of several fertilizers upon the growth of apple whips if applied at planting time. The dry fertilizers were applied in the holes and on the surface of the soil. Bone meal applied in the holes and urea applied Ion the surface increased growth. Acid phOSphate did not influence growth. Cyanamid, muriate of potash, nitrate of soda, ammonium sulphate, hen.manure, and ammonium phOSphate decreased growth. The decrease in growth resulting from fertilizers applied was prOportional to the amount applied. This would indicate that the injury resulted from plasmol- ysis of young root tissue rather than a chemical reaction. Lilleland (6) applied twenty pounds per tree of treble superphosphate in the hole at planting to apple, apricot, prune, and peach trees. The sail in which the trees were planted was extremely low in phOSphorus. Shoot growth, root growth, and cross sectional area of the trunk were greatly increased. The phOSphorus content of the leaves increased from 200-300 percent of that found in leaves of trees not treated. Schwartze and Myrhe (ll, 12) state that an increase in growth of blueberry hardwood cuttings was obtained from applications of nitrogen fertilizers. The plants were grown in beds of peat-sand mixture and reSponses were obtained from applications of ammonium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, and sodium nitrate, singly or in com- bination with phosphorus and potash. Increased shoot growth was still evident in the plants after two years. Sitton (13) applied ammonium nitrate, superphOSphate, and.muriate of potash to tung trees soon after planting. He reported that 0.08 - 0.16 of a pound of phosphate per tree increased linear growth, whereas results from trees on which potash was applied were inconsistent. Where leaf composition varied from 1.92 - 1.94 percent nitrogen, appli- cations of nitrogen increased growth. When leaf composition was above 2.25 percent nitrogen, applications of nitrogen. had little effect and when leaf composition was over 2.5h percent nitrogen, applications of nitrogen depressed growth. Baker (1) stated that on soils relatively low in available phosphorus, the phOSphOPlc acid or other soluble phosphates used in the prOper dilution at planting time, started tomato plants out more rapidly, reduced replanting, and increased early fruiting. The same responses were observed by Stair and Hartmann (15) who reported that early yields on tomato were increased by the application of a pint of starter solution per plant. The solution was pre- pared by mixing two pounds of treble superphosphate, one pound of calcium nitrate and one pound of potassium nitrate in fifty gallons of water. Carrier and Snyder (2) applied twenty-five cubic centi- meters of a starter solutiOn to four different floricul- tural crops. The solution was prepared by dissolving four pounds of mono-ammonium phosphate, two pounds of potassium phosphate, and two pounds of potassium nitrate in fifty gallons of water. Survival and height gain were increased with 23533. Days to flowering were decreased with Antirr- hinum majus and Delphinium. No significant differences were observed with Forsythia. Heath (8) applied one-half pint of a starter solution per plant to several varieties of strawberries. The solution consisted of six pounds of a 10-52-17 fertilizer per fifty gallons of water. Varieties differed in response. However, an average of all varieties tested showed that when the starter solution was applied, there was an increase in runner fonmation which was followed by an increase in yield. Jacob and White-Stevens (4): working with cauliflower and brussels Sprouts declared water was as beneficial as starter solutions when applied at transplanting time. However, they partially accounted for the lack of reaponse as being associated with high levels of soil fertility. Sayre (9, 10) reported that the principal effect of a starter solution was to enable the plant to become estab- lished more quickly and was particularly effective under conditions where the plants were low in nutrients at trans- planting time. Tiedjens and Schermerhorn (16) cited some advantages for starter solutions when used on vegetable crops. Less fertilizer was required because that applied was more quickly available. Injury from dry fertilizers next to roots was avoided and more uniform applications of fertil- izer could be made. Fertilizers of poor physical condition could be applied more satisfactorily. Plant reaponses were often obtained in dry weather. There has been a considerable amount of eXperimental work done on the effects of starter solutions on various creps. Much of this work, however, is not reported in scientific publications. A tabulation of several commercial preparations and the recommended application rates is presented in Appendix Table 11. PROCEDURE The eXperiment was located near Traverse City, Michi- gan, on a sandy loam soil. Several cr0ps of alfalfa had been previously grown on the field followed by a clover sod which was plowed down in the Spring before planting. Two hundred and ten, 7/16 inch cherry trees of the Montmorency variety (Prunus cerasus L.) budded on Mahaleb rootstocks were obtained during the fall of 1951 and "heeled in" over winter. The trees were pruned to whips and set twenty-two feet apart, on the square, in 21 rows during May of 1952. A view of the plot layout is presented in Figure 1. Nine solutions of fertilizer materials were prepared. The composition of these solutions is shown in Table 1 (see also Appendix Table 11). The solutions were applied at rates of one gallon and two gallons per tree with each solution being applied at both rates to ten trees. Suitable sized holes were dug with a tractor mounted post hole digger. The trees were then placed in the prOper position in the holes and enough soil was placed and firmed on and around the roots to hold the trees in place. This left a reservoir around the tree about six to eight inches deep and twelve to eighteen inches in diameter. The solutions were then poured into the reservoir. After the solutions had drained into the soil the remaining Figure I. A view of the experimental orchard showing tepography, planting plan and cover on November 1, 1952 TABLE 1 THE COMPOSITION OF STARTER SOLUTIONS APPLIED TO YOUNG MONTMORENCY CHERRY TREES AT PLANTING TIME .- ~ Solution Treatment Amount_per_gallon of water* ___ number d6318nat10n' Ammonium Phosphoric Potassium nitrate acid chloride (85%) gm 0° gm 1 N 17.3 - - 2 - h - 3 K - - 9.1 it NP 17.3 it - 5 NK 17.3 - 9.1 6 PK - LL 9.1 7 NPK 17.3 LL 9.1 8M NPK + TE 17.3 L. 9.1 9*“ TE - - - *Amount per 100 gallons in Appendix Table 12. **Trace element mixture added. Composition of the mixture was: 57.0 gm magnesium sulphate 1.1 gm cepper sulphate 2.h gm boric acid 0.8 gm ferrous sulphate 2.0 gm manganous sulphate 0.6 gm zinc sulphate 10 portion of the holes were filled. The trees were clean cultivated for a distance of approximately three feet on each side of the row, trashy cultivation being used between the clean cultivated areas. Five sprays of prOprietary cOpper compounds were applied during the growing season for control of cherry leaf Spot. Three additionalssprays of D.D.T. and parathion were applied, in late June, for rose chafer control. No fertil- izers other than those used in the solutions were applied. Trunk diameter was measured for each tree on May 11 and on November 1. The total amount of linear growth per tree was measured on November 1. A sample of leaves was taken from each treatment on November 1. Ten leaves from each of the ten trees in a treatment were taken from the median section of various branches around the tree. A damp cheesecloth was used to wipe off dirt and any Spray residue that might have been present. The leaf samples, both petioles and blades, were air dryed and ground together in a Wiley mill. The ground samples from each treatment were analyzed in the Agricultural Chemistry Laboratories. Total nitrogen was determined by Kjeldahl method. Potassium was deter- mined by use of the flame photometer. PhOSphorus, boron, magnesium, calcium, manganese, iron, and cOpper were deter- mined by use of the spectrograph. Leaf analysis values ‘were expressed as percent dry weight. Soil samples were collected on November 1 from the 11 area in the root zone where solutions had been applied in May. This was accomplished by use of a soil sampling tube. The tube was inserted into the soil to a depth of eighteen inches and a core of soil removed. The bottom six inches of soil from the core was taken as the sample, one core being taken for each tree. A composite sample from each treatment, made by mixing the cores from the ten trees in the treatment, was tested. Both active and reserve soil tests, Spurway and Lawton (1h), were employed to determine whether nutrient concentration had changed appreciably in the root zone, by the addition of the starter solutions. RESULTS Growth The influence of the starter solutions on increase in trunk diameter of young cherry trees is recorded in Table 2. At the one gallon level, an application of water with- out any nutrients added resulted in a greater increase in trunk diameter than that found for check trees. Two treat- ments, K and PK, resulted in a significantly greater increase in trunk diameter than occurred for those trees to which only water had been applied. Other treatments (N, P, NP, NK, and NPK) resulted in a slightly greater increase in trunk diameter than water alone. Treatments NPK plus TE and TE resulted in less increase in trunk diameter than when only water was applied. At the two gallon level, the application of water again resulted in a greater increase in trunk diameter than that of check trees. Treatments N, P, K, and PK resulted in a greater diameter increase than the treatment with water alone. None of the increases in trunk diameter were significant. However, trunk diameter increases resulting from treatments NP, NPK plus TE and TE were significantly less than when water alone was applied. Comparing the two levels of application, one gallon levels of K and PK resulted in a significantly greater 13 TABLE 2 THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN STARTER SOLUTIONS ON INCREASE IN TRUNK DIAMETER OF YOUNG SOUR CHERRY TREES (Averages of Ten Trees) solution Treatment Amount applied number designation One gallon Two gallons mm mm 1 N 5.13 n.69 2 n.65 5.61 3 K 5.99 4.65 a NP n.59 3.12 5 NK n.76 n.32 6 PK 6.15 n.65 7 NPK 5.00 n.01 8 NPK + TE 3.5a 2.3? 9 TE 3.83 1.8u Water n.10 n.51 Check 3,33 Least Significant Difference: 5% - 1.3u; 1% - 1.77 114 diameter increase than an application of two gallons of water. The treatments at the two gallon level of P and water increased trunk diameter slightly more than the same treatments at the one gallon level. All other treat- ments at the two gallon level resulted in less diameter increase than the same treatments at the one gallon level. A tabulation of the influence of starter solutions on the terminal growth of young cherry trees is provided in Table 3. No significant increases in terminal growth were obtained. However, treatments at the one gallon level of N, K, and PK increased terminal growth as compared with terminal growth of check trees. Treatments NPK, NPK plus TE and TE resulted in a decrease in terminal growth when compared to check trees. Treatments P, K, and PK at the two gallon level resulted in an increase in terminal growth. Whereas, treatments NP, NPK, NPK plus TE and TE resulted in a decrease in terminal growth as compared to check trees. Comparing the two levels of application, treatments P, K, and PK resulted in a greater increase in terminal growth at the two gallon level than at the one. All other treatments resulted in less terminal growth at the two gallon level of application than at the one. Leaf Composition A tabulation of the influence of one gallon of various THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN STARTER SOLUTIONS ON TERMINAL GROWTH OF YOUNG SOUR CHERRY TREES (Average of Ten Trees) TABLE 3 15 Solution Treatment Amount applied number designation One gallon Two gallons cm cm 1 N l7l.h lh2.3 2 P 1u3.9 187.0 3 K 160.8 172.8 A NP 149.u 98.3 5 NK 133.2 132.5 6 PK 159.u 171.1 7 NPK 12h.1 121.2 8 NPK + TE 102.1 102.9 9 TE 120.8 96.2 Water 127.8 lh0.6 Check 1hl.7 Least Significant Difference: 5% - u7.18; 1% - 62.29 l6 starter solutions on haaf nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium is given in Table h. The percentage of nitrogen in the leaves increased from 2.20 to 2.60 percent following an application of K. In treatment NPK, leaf nitrogen increased from 2.20 to 2.51 percent and in treatments NP and PK, from 2.20 to 2.h7 percent. The phOSphorus level in the leaves increased from ' ‘-T.Lli‘ I‘m” 0.152 to 0.184 percent in treatments NP and TE, from 0.152 to 0.178 percent in treatment PK; but decreased from 0.152 to 0.105 percent in treatment NPK plus TE. An application of NPK resulted in an increase in leaf potassium from 0.622 to 1.00 percent, from 0.622 to 0.969 percent in treatment PK, from 0.622 to 0.930 percent in treatment K, and from 0.622 to 0.890 percent in treatment NK. A decrease in leaf potassium resulted from applications of N, P, NP, and TE. Calcium, in the leaves, increased from 2.53 to 3.10 percent following an application of phosphorus (P) but decreased from 2.53 to 0.85 percent in the NPK treatment. The influence of applications of two gallons of the starter solutions on leaf nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium is given in Table 5. Following an application of NPK, leaf nitrogen in- creased from 2.20 to 2.52 percent but decreased from 2.20 to 2.03 percent with an application of trace elements (TE). ILeaf phosphorus increased from 0.152 to 0.208 percent 17 TABLE u LEAF COMPOSITION AS INFLUENCED BY APPLICATIONS OF ONE GALLON OF VARIOUS STARTER SOLUTIONS (Percent dry weight) Solution Treatment Leaf composition number designation Nitrogen PhOSphorus Potassium Calcium % % % % 1 N 2.h2 0.169 0.560 1.87 2 P 2.31 0.161 0.580 3.10 3 K 2.60 0.166 0.930 1.26 a NP 2.33 0.163 0.537 2.97 5 NK 2.h7 0.18h 0.890 2.03 6 PK 2.h7 0.178 0.969 1.78 7 NPK 2.51 0.134 1.000 0.85 8 NPK + TE 2.30 0.105 0.620 2.52 9 TE 2.16 0.184 0.505 2.50 Water 2.16 0.1h7 0.619 1.86 Check 2.20 0.152 0.622 2.53 18 TABLE 5 LEAF COMPOSITION AS INFLUENCED BY APPLICATIONS OF TWO GALLONS OF VARIOUS STARTER SOLUTIONS (Percent dry weight) Leaf composition Solution Treatment number designation Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Calcium 3"; % % % 1 N 2.38 0.181 0.522 2.79 2 P 2.13 0.173 0.522 1.71 3 K 2.39 0.11h 0.960 1.8h u NP 2.u0 0.169 0.596 1.57 5 NK 2.h0 0.139 0.864 1.21 6 PK 2.35 0.1u1 0.899 1.02 7 NPK 2.52 0.136 1.05 2.h0 8 NPK + TE .20 0.208 0.585 2.91 9 TE 2.03 0.152 0.573 1.63 Water 2.26 0.162 0.712 1.35 Check 2.20 0.152 0.622 2.53 19 in the treatment NPK plus TE, whereas in treatment K, the level decreased from 0.152 to 0.114 percent. Potassium, in the leaves, increased from 0.622 to 1.05 percent following an application of NPK, from 0.622 to 0.960 percent in treatment PK, and from 0.622 to 0.86h percent in the NK treatment. Leaf calcium varied considerably. Two values were outstanding, however. An application of NPK plus TE resulted in an increase from 2.53 to 2.91 percent and an application of PK resulted in a decrease from 2.53 to 1.02 percent. The content of magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, and boron in the leaves as influenced by one gallon appli— cations of the various starter solutions is given in Table 6. Treatments NP and TE resulted in a slight increase in leaf magnesium. Treatment N resulted in a decrease in magnesium from 0.7h3 to 0.266 percent and treatment NPK plus TE resulted in a decrease from 0.7h3 to 0.258 percent. Manganese, in the leaves, increased from 0.0063 to 0.0120 percent following an application of NK, from 0.0063 to 0.0106 percent in treatment NPK, and from 0.0063 to 0.0098 percent in the K treatment. Leaf manganese decreased from 0.0063 to 0.0026 percent in treatment NPK plus TE. The iron content of the leaves remained nearly constant except for the treatment NPK plus TE. In this treatment the iron content decreased from 0.016 to 0.008 percent. The amount of c0pper in the leaves increased from TABLE 6 LEAF COMPOSITION AS INFLUENCED BY APPLICATIONS OF ONE GALLON OF VARIOUS STARTER SOLUTIONS (Percent dry weight) 20 ——-—v Solution Treatment Leaf 09m9931919n_= number designation Magnesium Manganese Iron C0pper Boron % % % % % 1 N 0.266 0.0043 0.014 0.0049 0.0039 2 P 0.782 0.0079 0.015 0.0054 0.0034 3 K 0.529 0.0098 0.019 0.0050 0.0033 4 NP 0.818 0.0081 0.015 0.0067 0.0036 5 NK 0.620 0.0120 0.017 0.0074 0.0036 6 PK 0.490 0.0073 0.015 0.0063 0.0034 7 NPK 0.436 0.0106 0.015 0.0056 0.0030 8 NPK + TE 0.258 0.0026 0.008 0.0067 0.0104 9 TE 0.865 0.0059 0.014 0.0092 0.0164 Water 0.523 0.0049 0.015 0.0071 0.0033 Check 0.743 0.0063 0.016 0.0071 0.0036 0.0071 to 0.0092 percent following an application of trace elements (TE) which contained cOpper. Other values for leaf cepper were within a narrow range. The boron content of the leaves varied from 0.0033 to 0.0039 percent except for two treatments. Leaf boron increased from 0.0036 to 0.0104 percent following an appli- cation of NPK plus TE and from 0.0036 to 0.0164 percent following an application of trace elements (TE) alone. The influence of applications of two gallons of various starter solutions on leaf magnesium, manganese, iron, c0pper and boron is given in Table 7. An application of NPK plus TE resulted in an increase in leaf magnesium from 0.743 to 1.10 percent. Magnesium, in the leaves, decreased when P, K, NK, and PK were applied. Leaf manganese increased from 0.0063 to 0.0306 percent in the NPK treatment, from 0.0063 to 0.0187 percent with an application of NK, from 0.0063 to 0.0142 percent following NPK plus TE, and from 0.0063 to 0.0123 percent in the NP treatment. Little variation was detected in the iron content of the leaves. The percentage of iron increased slightly in the treatment NPK plus TE. Leaf cOpper increased from 0.0071 to 0.0141 percent following the TB application, from 0.0071 to 0.0130 percent in the NP treatment, and from 0.0071 to 0.0105 percent in treatment NPK plus TE. Boron, in the leaves, varied from 0.0030 to 0.0040 TABLE 7 LEAF COMPOSITION AS INFLUENCED BY APPLICATIONS OF TWO GALLONS OF VARIOUS STARTER SOLUTIONS (Percent dry weight) 22 Leaf composition Solution Treatment number designation Magnesium Manganese Iron C0pper Boron %* % % % % 1 N 0.621 0.0098 0.019 0.0080 0.0040 2 p 0.478 0.0048 0.015 0.0073 0.0039 3 K 0.486 0.0064 0.013 0.0049 0.0031 4 NP 0.581 0.0123 0.014 0.0130 0.0037 5 NK 0.443 0.0187 0.014 0.0067 0.0030 6 PK 0.462 0.0073 0.012 0.0061 0.0031 7 NPK 0.572 0.0306 0.016 0.0086 0.0033 8 NPK + TE 1.10 0.0142 0.021 0.0105 0.0179 9 TE 0.612 0.0042' 0.014 0.0141 0.0251 Water 0.627 0.0071 0.017 0.0100 0.0038 Check 0.743 0.0063 0.016 0.0071 0.0036 23 percent except for two treatments. In the NPK plus TE treatment leaf boron increased from 0.0036 to 0.0179 per- cent and in the TE treatment boron content increased from 0.0036 to 0.0251 percent. The application of one gallon of solution NPK plus TE resulted in a decrease in leaf magnesium, manganese, and iron, whereas two gallons of the same solution resulted in an increase in the percentage of these elements. Level of Nutrients in the Soil The influence of various starter solutions on phos- phorus and potassium content of the soil in the root zone is given in Tables 8 and 9. Little or no effect was recorded for any treatment on the content of phOSphorus as extracted in the active test. However, all treatments in which phosphorus had been applied alone or in combination with other nutrients increased the phOSphoruS content of the soil, as evidenced by the reserve test. In all instances where potassium was applied either alone or in combination with other nutrients, the potassium content of the soil was increased. This increase was detected by both active and reserve tests. Additional soil tests for pH, nitrates, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron are presented in Appendix Tables 13, 14, 15, and 16. In general, the calcium level varied from 600-1000 pounds per acre as recorded by the active test. pH varied 25 TABLE 9 THE INFLUENCE OF TWO GALLON APPLICATIONS OF CERTAIN STARTER SOLUTIONS ON PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM CONTENT OF THE SOIL (Pounds per acre) Solution Treatment Ph03phorus Potassium number designation Active ‘Reserve ‘Ictive ‘Reserve lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre lbs/acre 1 N 1 5 3 26 ' 2 4 15 20 20 3 K 1 4 136 116 4 NP 3 17 3 144 5 NK 2 64 136 6 PK 1 9 36 96 7 NPK 3 23 80 172 8 NPK + rs 1 17 40 96 9 IE 1 10 32 Water 3 3 26 Check 3 5 28 36 26 Figure II. A. B. C. D. Tree from the treatment where water was added. The tree shows symptoms of potassium deficiency. Tree from the treatment where potassium was applied. The tree shows good growth. Tree from the treatment where one gallon of a trace element mixture was added. The tree shows an accentuation of potassium deficiency symptoms. Tree from the treatment where two gallons of a trace element mixture was added. The tree was defoliated and growth was reduced. from 4.8 to 5.5. Magnesium ranged from a blank test to 40 pounds per acre and manganese from a blank test to 16 pounds per acre as shown by the active test. 27 LESCUSSION The application of potassium at planting time, in the form of a starter solution, resulted in a higher percentage of potassium in the leaves, and a greater amount of avail- able potassium in the soil in the immediate area around the roots. An increase in leaf manganese and a decrease in leaf calcium and magnesium occurred whenever potassium content was increased. This interrelationship took place without applications of magnesium, calcium, or manganese. Trees receiving the applications of potassium showed a greater increase in trunk diameter and put on more term- inal growth than check trees or trees receiving only water. The trees in the check rows evidenced signs of potassium deficiency (5). The leaves on those trees were pale green in color, with yellowish-brown edges and were usually curled or folded in shape. Terminal growth on trees treated with applications of potassium was thicker and more desirable than that of all other treatments. The response to additions of potassium was greatly influenced by the low level of potassium in the original soil. The effects of certain other treatments, namely, N, P, and NP, was partially governed by this low level of potassium also. Assuming that applications of potassium corrected 29 potassium deficiency and provided adequate quantities of potassium for growth, applications of nitrogen and phos- phorus along with potassium should result in additional growth. Phosphorus applied with potassium in some instances resulted in a greater increase in growth than potassium alone. However, such was not the case for other combinations of nutrients. Table 10 shows the influence of the osmotic pressure of the applied solution on the growth of young cherry trees in treatments where potassium applications were adequate to correct potassium deficiency symptoms. As the osmotic pressure of the applied solution increased above two atmos- pheres growth was inversely pr0portiona1 to the increase in osmotic pressure. From the data, an osmotic pressure value of approximately two atmospheres or less appears most desirable. Starter solutions having higher osmotic pressure values resulted in a reduction in growth. Probably early root growth was prevented due to plasmolysis. One of the factors influencing the osmotic pressure of a solution is the salt concentration, which may be lowered by dilution with water. 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MHDzmnEd 40 APPENDIX TABLE 12 THE COMPOSITION AND pH OF VARIOUS STARTER SOLUTIONS APPLIED TO YOUNG SOUR CHERRY TREES (Rates per 100 Gallons) Solution Treatment Ammonium Phosphoric Potassium pH number designation nitrate acid chloride pounds pints pounds 1 N 3.81 - - 7.2 2 - 0.85 - 20H 3 K - - 2 7.5 h NP 3.81 0.85 - 2.u S NK 3.81 - 2 7.2 6 PK - 0.85 2 2.u 7 NPK 3.81 0.85 2 2.u 8* NPK + TE 3.81 0.85 2 2.5 9* TE - - - 6.u *Trace element mixture added. Composition of the mixture was: 12.55 pounds magnesium sulphate 0.2a pounds copper sulphate 0.53 pounds boric acid 0.18 pounds ferrous sulphate 0.hu pounds manganous sulphate 0.13 pounds zinc sulphate APPENDIX TABLE 1h THE NUTRIENT LEVEL OF SOIL SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE ROOT ZONE OF YOUNG SOUR CHERRY TREES TREATED WITH ONE GALLON OF VARIOUS STARTER SOLUTIONS (Pounds per acre) Solution Active test Reserve test DUMbOP Manganese Manganese Iron lbs/acre lbs/acre lbsigcre 1 2 N.D. 12 2 6 3 16 3 6 8 1n n 6 16 16 S 8 12 16 6 h 2 20 7 8 N.D. 1h 8 1h 8 18 9 12 18 1h Water 2 N.D. 32 Check 2 N.D. 32 N.D. - none detected APPENDIX TABLE 17 THE OSMOTIC PRESSURE OF VARIOUS STARTER SOLUTIONS APPLIED TO YOUNG SOUR CHERRY TREES (In Atmospheres) 45 Solution Treatment Conductance* number designation in mhos times 10 -5 Calculated“ osmotic pressure NP NK PK NPK NPK + TE TE \OCD-QO‘U'l-F'UJNH 700 250 450 900 1000 600 1500 2000 675 atmospheres 2.52 0.90 1.62 3.2u 3.60 2.16 S.u0 7.20 2.13 *Conductance measured by means of a solu-bridge. **0a1cu1ated by formula: (17) (Conductance in mhos times 1 0'5) (0.36 times 103). 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