Original scientific paper
Seasonal Changes in Calcium Concentration of Bearing Plum Shoots
Zlatko Čmelik
Abstract
The seasonal changes in Ca concentration in the tissues of of plum shoots taken from mature trees of the cultivar Bistrica were determined over two growing seasons. Samples were taken from trees that were growing in grass sward and from trees under improved management (with pruning, manure and fertilizer application, soil cultivation under the trees and mowing of the grass sward between the alleys)
The investigation showed that seasonal changes in Ca concentration in particular parts of plum shoots was quite different. Decreasing of calcium concentration was observed in the vegetative and generative buds in the period from the beginning of vegetation to full blooming, and in the fruits from the period when the shoot growth ceased to the time of fruit ripening. On the contrary, calcium concentration was increasing during the vegetation in the leaf blade, leaf petiole and in the bark of the shoots. Calcium concentration in the wood tissue of the plum shoots wasnt changed over the growing season.
In the bark of the previous year shoots calcium concentration was gradually increased from the beginning of vegetation to the full blooming and then decreased smoothly to the middle of vegetation, and to the fall remained stable. In the wood tissue of the previous shoot from the beginning of vegetation to the phenophase of the green head decreasing of Ca concentration occurred. After that Ca concentration increased in full blooming and stayed stable to the middle of the season, and then it fell slowly to the end of vegetation.
The results of investigation showed that management had no effect on the seasonal tendency and had a little effect on Ca concentration level. Calcium concentration in the bark of the new growth and in the bark of the previous year shoots of control was significantly greater.
Keywords
Prunus domestica; cultivar Bistrica; mineral nutrition; calcium; orchard management
Hrčak ID:
12515
URI
Publication date:
14.6.2000.
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