m E E, E E H E lull“ E E EEEI ‘l'E |E|E| E E EEEEIEEE '—-i E, =85 IE 'cnom E TRENDS EN NUTRIENT STATUS OF MECHEGAN QRCHARDS HS REFLECTED HY EEAF ANALYSES T230 stasis for the Degree 0? M. S uG’HEAN S“.’~ETE UHEE/ERSEE‘Y “R’HFI H‘JEY JAMES BELTER 1970 LIBRARY Michigan S care University EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHEEEEEEEEEEEEEI L 3 1293 00995 58 "1 Ave 2 2 {rm- . 1‘. t “‘3. ' (1"; ‘ . c, TRENIB IN NUTRIENT STATUS OF MICHIGAN ORCHARDS AS REFLECTED BY LEAF ANALYSIS BY Harvey James Belter A THESIS Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Department of Horticulture 19 70 ABSTRACT TRENDS IN NUTRIENT STATUS OF MICHIGAN ORCHARIB AS REFLECTED BY LEAF ANALYSIS By Harvey James Belter A study of the analysis of leaf samples submitted by fruit growers in ten Michigan counties for a twelve year period was made to estimate the trends in nutrient status in Michigan orchards. A total of 2,465 leaf samples from the ten selected counties were analyzed between 1956 and 1968 for nine nutrient elements. These results were statistically analyzed to determine the trend (increase or decrease) for each of the elements. Such trends were noted on a state basis, by counties, and by kind of fruit. On a state basis, Michigan orchards have a projected decrease for N, K and Zn and a projected increase for P, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, and B. However, K appeared to be the element most likely to become deficient. The state trends appeared to be generally true for the c01mties and kind of fruit. However, the trends were less frequently statistically signifi- cant. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The writer wishes to express his sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. A. L. Kenworthy for his assistance, guidance, and encourage- ment for suggesting the problem and in preparation of the thesis; to Michael Kilby for assistance in computer programming; to the Coopera- tive Extension Service for the sabbatical leave which made it possible to carry on this work; and to my family for their patience and sacrifices during my absence. ii TAB LE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . ..... ii LIST OF TABLES iv LIST OF FIGURES v LIST OF APPENDICES vi INTRODUCTION.......... ..... 1 METHOIB............................. RESULTS ....................................................... 3 DISCUSSION .................................................... 11 SUMMARY ..................................................... 13 LITERATURE CITED............................................ 14 APPENDIX TABLES .............. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOIOOOOOOOOOOO 2 .0.0...OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 15 iii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Number of leaf samples submitted by Michigan fruit growers for complete analySIS. 3 2. Estimated nutrient trends for orchards in various co‘mtieSOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 8 3. Nutritional trends for orchards of various kinds of fnlitOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 9 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1 Nutritional trends in Michigan orchards. (All crops 5 included.) Nitrogen 03> Potassium Phosphorus Calcium .UO Magnesium Manganese Iron mp'nrn Boron H O Zinc LIST OF APPENDICES Table Page 1. Ntunber of leaf samples analyzed for nine elements in ten counties, 1956-1968. (1966 data missing. ). . . . . . . . . 16 2. Number of leaf samples analyzed for nine elements in ten counties. Kinds of fruit: 17 3. Mean chart index (C.I. ), significance of correlation coefficient, and regression equation values for estimating nutrient trends in each of ten counties in MicmgaIIOOOOOO0......0....OOIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. 18 4. Mean chart index (C.l. ), significance of correlation coefficient and regression equation values for estimating nutrient trends for various kinds of fruit. . . 21 INTRODUCTION Leaf analysis has been used for many years as a means of deter- mining current nutritional needs of fruit trees. A program designed so that Michigan fruit growers could use leaf analysis routinely as a guide to fertilizer programs was started in 1953 (3). Such programs have been established in many other states. Leaf analysis has been used in several instances to make a survey of current nutritional status of orchards in a given area (state or region) (1, 2, 5, 6, 7). However, such studies were usually for a one- or two- year period and occasionally for a five-year period. There has been no study in which leaf analysis over a longer period of time was used as a basis for establishing trends in nutrient status and forecasting when appli- cations ‘of specific nutrients may be needed. Results of such a study of Michigan orchards are presented herein. METHOIB The analysis of leaf samples which had been submitted by Michigan fruit growers to the Plant Analysis Laboratory, Michigan State University, between 1956 and 1968 were selected for study. Ten counties (see Table 1) were selected and data for leaf samples analyzed for nine elements were used. The data were placed on punched cards and each sample identified as to year, kind of fruit and county. To permit pooling of different kinds of fruit, the data were entered as nutrient balance chart indices (0.1.) (4). The data were analyzed to determine trends of yearly means on the basis of state, county, and kind of fruit. The significance of linear re- gression with years was determined by use of MSU, AES, Computer Programs, STAT Series, Program Description No. 13 - one-way analysis of variance with unequal number of duplicates (UNEQ 1). To estimate when a specific nutrient might become critically low, balance chart indices were used as follows: 80 for N; 70 for K, Ca, Mg; 50 for P, Mn, Fe, B, and Zn (a chart index of 100 would equal standard diagnostic values ). RESULTS The distribution of the 2,465 leaf samples by county and kind of fruit is shown in Table l. The number of samples for each year in the different counties is given in Appendix Table l, and for different kinds of fruit in Appendix Table 2. Table 1. Number of leaf samples submitted by Michigan fruit growers for complete analysis. Comty No. of samples Kind of fruit No. of samples Van Buren 448 Apple (all varieties) 1109 Berrien 445 Jonathan 406 Grand Traverse 332 Mclntosh 313 Kent 265 Red Delicious 204 Benzie 262 Peach 90 Oceana 249 Sour Cherry 675 Allegan 185 Sweet Cherry 194 Leelanau 142 Pear 212 Oakland 71 Plum 53 Mason 65 Grape 97 Blueberry 35* *Samples submitted through Michigan Blueberry Growers Association not included. Trends for each nutrient, including all kinds of fruit and for the various counties, are shown in Figure 1. Regression analysis of the leaf analyses showed that N, K, and Zn had a decreasing trend while P, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe and B had an increasing trend. From the regression equation a general shortage of N by 1994, K by 1990, and Zn by 1998 could be forecast. The rate of increase shown for the other elements does not suggest a reason for concern regarding possible toxicity levels for any element. .780 .K .on new mm .od 3&8 N 3.3 mm :oflmmofiwou E wow: .38? H8» * $4 - 32 u EN Emmy "SEN Ems ._. 84 + E: u m .58 88m 39» ._. 85 + Nfi H mm Emmy 8: Hams ._. £5 + 1% u .2 .EE $83.82 58» ._. $5 + RS u w: HE 853332 EH . and + OS n 8 Emmy Basso H8» .. :5 + n.2, u m Emmy mafimmofi 39» ... $5 .. .33 u 2 .58 SEER .239» .. Ed - ENS u z .53 9&8qu «Em'U'dm'uIU'm'q Tumuflofl 398 33 63330 £332 5 $35.3 383332 .3 SEE 1:... .. -. ‘§\| 1...... >_...h ‘G... Jo. S. .s.... >_...>l 33...... \\\, 3...... 5....» I XICNI IIVHD XIINI LIV") XIINI LIV") :1.» «50.3003 8 an u‘ \\\ . \ \ \ \\ 1:... in. ‘1' 2...... 5....» I I‘m» Nb 8 v0 00 on u - 1 1 u m \ \\\ \\ ‘EOHQ .-.. !“\ 3...... 5....h 1:... .... .III 2...... 3...: O .— UP mm— XIGNI IIVHD XICNI LIV") XIONI 1"") 1:... .:. IIII 3...... >_...> I ¢ \lx \\\\\ p 1:... ..-. \l -:I.... >....h 'fl... .OII .‘I 2...... 3.... I XICNI IIVHD XICNI IIVMQ IIVNS XIONI Estimated nutritional trends for orchards in each of the 10 counties are shown in Table 2. Statistics for the regression equation for each element in each county are presented in Appendix Table 3. Nitrogen appeared to be decreasing in fruit plantings of all counties except Oceana and Mason while potassium appeared to be increasing in Grand Traverse, Benzie, and Mason. Phosphorus, calcium and magnesium were increasing in all counties. Manganese and iron were increasing in all counties except Kent and Allegan. Oakland was the only county showing a decrease for boron. Zinc appeared to be increasing for Allegan, Leelanau and Oakland counties, and decreasing for Van Buren, Berrien, Grand Traverse, Kent, Benzie, Oceana and Mason counties. Not all of these trends, however, were statistically significant. The nutritional trends for kinds of fruit from orchards in the 10 counties are given in Table 3. Statistics for the regression equation for each element for each kind of fruit are presented in Appendix Table 4. Statistical signifi- cance of the trends was not found in most instances. However, nitrogen appeared to be decreasing for Delicious, Jonathan, sour cherry, peach, sweet cherry, grape, and blueberry, but increasing for Mclntosh, Golden Delicious, miscellaneous apple varieties, pear and plum. The increase indicated for Mclntosh and Golden Delicious may have association with the fact that the standard value for these two varieties was lowered from 2.3 to 2.0% in 1960. Table 2. Estimated nutrient trends for orchards in various counties. N K P County 1956 1980 19 56 1980 19 56 1980 Van Buren 9 l 77(-) 105 74(-) 87 107(+)* Berrien 88 77(-) 106 78(-) 87 114(+)* Grand Traverse 9 1 85(- )* 85 90(+) 8 1 94(+)* Kent 90 82(-)* 102 73(-) 89 123(+)* Benzie 77 75(- )* 77 106(+) 84 90(+)* Oceana 8 5 95(+)* 91 91 78 98(+) Allegan 89 73(-) 96 81(-) 87 99(+) Leelanau 96 78(- )* 88 78(-) 77 109(+)* Oakland 93 54(- )* 109 74(-) 97 124(+) Mason 74 124(+) 73 12 1(+) 80 109(+) Ca Mg Mn 1956 1980 1956 1980 1956 1980 Van Buren 88 96(+)* 92 102 (+)* 97 107(+)* Berrien 8 5 109(+)* 77 117(+)* 102 103(+) Grand Traverse 83 99(+) 82 94(+) 76 ll6(+) Kent 92 104(+) 80 98(+)* 96 69(-) Benzie 8 1 93(+)* 83 88(+) 72 13 1(+) Oceana 75 117(+)* 72 108(+) 84 105(+)* Allegan 92 105(+)* 83 90(+) 110 76(-)* Leelanau 88 115(+)* 84 95(+) 73 95(+) Oakland 1 11 112 (+)* 93 93 100 l98(+)* Mason 80 102 (+)* 78 93 (+) 80 96(+)* Fe B Zn 1956 1980 19 56 1980 1956 1980 Van Buren 86 107(+)* 82 112 (+)* 12 l 92(-) Berrien 93 103(+)* 8 1 110(+)* 105 105 Grand Traverse 84 116(+)* 70 93 (+)* 105 77(-) Kent 101 69(-) 80 lll(+)* 137 26(-)- Benzie 69 13 l(+)* 71 95(+) 109 77(-) Oceana 34 105(+) 70 109(+) 100 75(-) Allegan 8 l 76(- )* 76 126(+) 130 155(+)* Leelanau 73 95(+)* 65 109 (+) 12 5 l38(+) Oakland 116 l98(+) 92 72(-)* 106 126(+) Mason 74 96(+) 69 104 (+) 100 75(-) 1 Balance chart indices calculated from regression equation. * Regression significant. See Appendix Table 3 for statistics. Nutritional trends for orchards of various kinds of fruit. 1 Table 3. N P Kind of fruit 1956 1980 1956 1980 1956 1980 Mclntosh 88 108(+)* 106 59(-)* 88 98(+) Golden Delicious 82 115(+) 123 75(-) 113 70(-) Delicious 98 84(-) 109 71(-)* 88 115(+)* Jonathan 87 84(-) 101 77(-)* 24 33(+) Sour cherry 91 68(-)* 88 78(-)* 85 92(+)* Apples (misc. varieties) 85 96(+) 45 15( -)* 90 108(+) Peach 85 81(-) 137 68(-)* 87 109(+)* Sweet cherry 86 78(-) 85 77(-) 80 77(-) Pear 84 95(+) 99 64(-)* 81 91(+) Plum 78 101(+)* 152 108(-) 90 99(+) Grapes 98 91(-) 101 139(+) 101 157(+) Blueberry 108 56(-) 169 26(-)* 156 249(+)* Ca Mg Mn 1956 1980 1956 1980 1956 1980 McIntosh 97 l33(+)* 71 96(+)* 64 59(-) Golden Delicious 92 109(+) 105 74(-) l9E 78(+) Delicious 78 108(+)* 83 106(+)* 113 86(-) Jonathan 79 115(+)* 82 90(+)* 108 68(-)* Sour cherry 90 108(+)* 85 100(+)* 41 33(-)* Apples (misc. varieties) 106 75(-) 79 77(-) 115 93(-) Peach 100 78(-) 18 7(-) 65 97(+) Sweet cherry 87 86(-) 88 87(-) 41 67(+) Pear 97 ll4(+) 80 77(-) 59 91(+) Plum 123 70(-)* 76 98(+) 73 109(+) Grapes 88 105(+) 132 122(-) 110 99(-) Blueberry 45 134(+)* 12 29(+) 73 63(-) Fe B Zn 1956 1980 1956 1980 1956 1980 McIntosh 84 79(-) 84 83(-) 154 4(-)* Golden Delicious 84 83(-) 73 70(-) 206 19(-) Delicious 87 72(-)* 95 94(-) 137 33(-)* Jonathan 90 89(-) 84 104(+)* 137 26(-)* Sour cherry 61 57(-) 71 103(+)* 94 93(-) Apples (misc. varieties) 117 35(-)* 85 75(-) 118 71(-) Peach 101 91(-) 82 99(+)* 80 122(+) Sweet cherry 90 86(-) 78 84(+) 60 54(-) Pear 58 87(+)* 78 80(+) 102 l49(+)* Plum 107 77(-) 84 101(+) 119 142(+) Grapes 30 5(-) 100 134(+)* 57 225(+)* Blueberry 35 l67(+)* 32 194(+)* 156 - ll(-) 1Balance chart indices calculated from regression equation. *Regression significant. See Appendix Table 4 for statistics. 10 Potassium showed a decrease for all crops except grape. Phosphorus appeared to be on the increase for all crops except Golden Delicious and sweet cherry. Calcium showed an increase for all crops except the miscellaneous apple varieties, peach, sweet cherry, and plum. Mclntosh, Delicious, Jonathan, sour cherry, plum and blueberry showed an increase in magnesium, while Golden Delicious, miscellaneous apple varieties, peach, sweet cherry, pear and grape appeared to be decreasing. Manga- nese showed a decrease for Mclntosh, Delicious, Jonathan, sour cherry, miscellaneous apple varieties, for grape and blueberry, and an increase for Golden Delicious, peach, sweet cherry, pear, and plum. Iron appeared to be decreasing for all crops except pear and blueberry. Boron showed an increase for Jonathan, sour cherry, peach, sweet cherry, pear, plum, grape, and blueberry, and a decrease for Mclntosh, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, and miscellaneous apple varieties. Zinc appeared to be decreasing for Mclntosh, Golden Delicious, Delicious, Jonathan, sour cherry, miscella- neous apple varieties, sweet cherry, and blueberry, and increasing for peach, pear, plum, and grape. DISCUSSION Throughout the past 10 to 20 years Michigan fruit growers have made intensive applications of mixed fertilizers to their fruit plantings. In recent years the trend has been to reduce fertilizer applications and to apply fertilizers as single elements according to need. Within this same period of time, large amounts of dolomitic lime was applied to adjust pH levels for correcting Mn excess, and to alleviate Ca and Mg shortages; hence, the increased availability of Ca and Mg may be related to the general use of dolomitic lime. A decrease in N may be attributed to growers not making repeat applications often enough or reducing amounts applied to obtain higher quality fruit. K deficiency which has been found in all fruit crops except apple could be attributed to fertilizer applications of N only or inadequate K contained in complete fertilizers. The increase in P availability may be the result of the large amounts of mixed fertilizers applied 10 to 20 years ago. The increase in B availability is somewhat difficult to explain. How- ever, B has been recommended by various agencies to individual growers. Over the years orchard soils have shown a slight increase in pH which may have an effect on the downward trend for Zn. It should be pointed out that the leaf samples for this study did not always come from the better growers or from the well fertilized orchards. 11 12 Growers, in general, do not send in leaf samples to establish a fertilizer program, but from orchards, vineyards, or plantings that were not per- forming well or where a problem existed. Also, a given grower may not have leaf samples analyzed each year. Therefore, the results were usually from different growers each year, and represent many soil types and age of plantings. The data indicate that the recurrence of below normal values should become less for all elements except N, K, and Zn. However, the frequency of below normal values for N, K, and Zn should increase Imless there is a general change in current fertilizer programs. SUMMARY The leaf analysis program was initiated in the state of Michigan in 1953. An analysis of the existing program had never been conducted. There were no existing reports in the literature covering more than five or more years. A study covering twelve-years data for ten selected Michigan counties was undertaken. This was to determine whether any nutrient element might become deficient or in excess by the year 1980. A total of 2,465 leaf samples were analyzed. A review of the charts and figures shows some nutrients increasing and some decreasing. Fruit crops reveal nutrient increases and similarly estimated deficiencies or shortages. likewise, on a state basis, fruits show a projected decrease for N, K and Zn, and a projected increase for P, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, and B. Zn appeared to be the element most likely to show the most prevalent deficiency in fruit crops by 1980. It would appear that most apple cultivars and blueberries are most likely to exhibit Zn shortage. Of the counties, fruit crops in Kent county are estimated to be the first to experience Zn deficiency. The literature reviewed reported Zn deficiency in the Eastern United States, and it could possibly become limiting in Michigan by 1980. 13 LITERATURE CITED Cline, R. A. and J. A. Archibald. 1965. The effect of potassium and phosphorus fertilizer on yield and quality of Montmorency cherry. Ontario Hort. Exp. Sta. and Products Lab. Report. Hull, J. , Jr. and A. L. Kenworthy. 1964. Nutritional survey of Indiana apple orchards utilizing foliar analysis as the diagnostic tool. Purdue Agr. Exp. Sta. J. Paper No. 2242. Kenworthy, A. L. 1953. Nutritional conditions of Michigan orchards. A survey of soil analyses and leaf composition. Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta. Tech. Bul. 237. Kenworthy, A. L. 1967. Plant analysis and interpretation of analysis for Horticulture crops. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Spec. Pub. No. 2, Part II, pp. 59‘75. Smith, Cyril B. 1965. A five-year nutritional survey of Pennsylvania apple, peach, and sour cherry orchards. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 717, Penn. State Univ. Stiles, W. C. 1968. Fertilizer practices in Maine orchards. Proc. 78th Ann. Mtg. Conn. Pomological Soc. Yu, Kyung Sang. 1967. Some factors affecting apple leaf nutrient concentrations. M.S. Thesis, Univ. Minn. unpublished. 14 APPENDIX TABLES 15 l6 mowN Hm NHoH mo mwN NON me mON Nmm mew mew H.309 omm N on w mm mm 3. ow 00 mm NH. womH HomH O NH w w mm m H H Ho AH mH $3 wHHV N 3 m ow mm H N on mu mo 33 NwN NH AH m 0H wN mN 0N 0N H N we H63 NmH N N. Ho MN HVN NH 3 HuH wN mN moaH moN N m H mm m N HN mN Hm HN NoaH NNm H. mm o N H OH mm 00 mm mm HomH o: m w 0 HH HV 5H Nm m mm Nm ocoH AH m H o o o H o H H. 5 $3 MN m m o o o H. m H m a wmmH 50H 0 m o H mH mH Ho OH Nm mN hmmH. mg a o m N o o c H oH em ommH HSOH USHVHmO 33203 .532 mnmooo oHNnom named»... “ABM 3.323 B :oflnom 5.3m meow HEEHU 8.5 Enema. 3% 8...: £3.32 £2.58 :8 5 BooEoHo one .8. RES 8388 3.2 .o 8852 .H mnmfi. x5233. 17 £3 E 3 mo 03 SN me m8 «mm m: a; HEEL mm o o o o o w o o S S EH8 63.5 R o o o N o H H o 3 $ 255 mm H H N HH 5 H N w 2 5 83m NHN oH H o om 2 HH 2 3 3 HH 38 HaH H mm H OH R N m S NH HH EH28 ”695m who N 3 0H Hm E Hm Hm m: 8 mm EH20 Hflom om m H m a 8 h m H an mm 68m 8: mm 5 HM ca wNH 8 mHN mm mHN mom 2%? Hduok UanvaO :mgHmmA acmmHz «.5300 mHNHHom HammoHH< unmvH 039»wa HHmEHmm amusm ”—3.3 985 as» H0 8Q .uHPHm mo mUEVH .mmflqsoo =3 5 mEmEmHm m5: .HOH @33qu mmHHHEmm :2 Ho 39:32 .N m4m