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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #297522

Title: What about the rare-earth elements

Author
item Wood, Bruce
item Grauke, Larry

Submitted to: Pecan Grower
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/2/2013
Publication Date: 11/2/2013
Citation: Wood, B.W., Grauke, L.J. 2013. What about the rare-earth elements. Pecan Grower. 25(2):8-16.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: There is insufficient understanding of the nutritional physiology of pecan trees and orchards; thus, affecting nutmeat yield and quality, disease resistance and alternate bearing. An analysis of the rare-earth element composition of pecan and related hickory cousins found that they hyperaccumulate these elements and that these elements exhibit evidence of conferring biological advantages trees. There is evidence that rare-earth elements are beneficial nutrients for pecan; thus, opening up new aspects of nutrient management which potentially influences the profitability of orchard operations and use efficiency of orchard inputs.