Accumulation, Paritioning, and Loss of Mineral Nutrients in 'Meeker' Red Raspberry at Various Stages of Phenological Development

Authors: Bryla, David; Rempel, Hannah; HART, JOHN - OREGON STATE UNIV; STRIK, BERNADINE - OREGON STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2007
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. Pacific Northwest is the leading production region for red raspberries in North America. Total production in the region in 2004 was 33,700 tons harvested from nearly 11,000 acres grown in Oregon and Washington. The most common nutrients applied to raspberry are N, P, and K, and sometimes B. Lime is also suggested. However, present fertilizer recommendations are not based on any fertilizer studies performed in Oregon or Washington. A study was conducted to determine concentration, uptake, and partitioning of all essential nutrients among plant parts at various stages of plant development in red raspberry. We also determined the impact of N fertilization on nutrient uptake and partitioning. By comparing plants that have been fertilized with N to those that have not, we assessed the impact of limited N on uptake and partitioning of other essential nutrients. These data will help us target rates and timing of nutrient application to maximize growth and production in red raspberry.

Technical Abstract: Accumulation, partitioning, and loss of macro- and micronutrients were determined in mature 'Meeker' red raspberry plants grown with and without N fertilizer in 2001 and 2002. Biomass, nutrient concentration, and nutrient content of primocanes, floricanes, ripe fruit, crown, and roots were determined each year at six stages of phenological development. These included '1 mo. after bud break, late bloom, late fruit maturity, peak floricane senescence, just prior to primocane leaf senescence, and at the beginning of winter dormancy. Total plant biomass reached its maximum sometime between late fruit maturity in mid July and floricane senescence in mid September, varying somewhat with year and N application. Biomass and nutrients mostly accumulated in floricanes prior to harvest and in primocanes after harvest, but generally declined in crown and roots during spring floricane production and increased after fall senescence. Nutrient accumulation usually preceeded growth. Primocanes generally contained the highest concentration of most nutrients during the growing season, except Ca, Cu, and Zn, which often were more concentrated below ground in roots. Roots typically contained the highest concentration of all nutrients during winter dormancy. Nutrient partitioning varied considerably among elements due to different nutrient concentrations and requirements in each plant part. This difference not only affected the proportion of each nutrient allocated to plant parts, but also the relative amount of each nutrient lost or removed during harvest, senescence, and pruning. Summer fruit harvest removed anywhere from as little as 2-27% of the plants total nutrients, depending on the element, while fall pruning and leaf senescence removed anywhere from 27-71%.