The evaluation of leaf nutrient contents and element ratios of different raspberry varieties

Abstract

In determining the nutritional status of fruit plants, leaf analysis is a very commonly used method. In researches related to the elimination of nutrient element deficiencies in raspberry species, it has been stated that ratios of macro and micro nutrients are important parameters to determine the usability of nutrition status of the plants. For this aim, the study was carried out with seven raspberry species (Rubus idaeus L.) by evaluating their leaf nutrient element contents and their rates in the experimental field. The difference between leaf nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu and B) of species was statistically very important (P < 0.001), while S and Na contents were not significantly different. According to the leaf nutrient element rates, the proportion of N in the leaf N+P+K amount of species and N/P ratio were high (54.98% and 9.0, respectively) due to excessive nitrogen application in the raspberry garden. As a result of the measurements, there was a deficiency risk in P and K elements for species. In addition, it is ascertained that species had a deficiency risk due to the fact that the rate of K in K + Ca + Mg amount (49.61), the ratio of K/Ca+Mg (0.98) and that of Ca/K (1.16) were lower than the reference values. High reference values of N+P/K and Ca/B ratios (1.48 and >450, respectively) for all species represented a boron deficiency risk. Some species had Mn toxicity risk due to lower Fe/Mn ratio (<1.50).