The Influence of Foliar Nutrition of Apple Trees with Silicon on Growth and Yield as Well as Mineral Content in Leaves and Fruits

The technology of producing fruits containing an increased amount of elements essential for the health of the human body, including silicon, has become very important in recent years. Due to the popularity of apple tree cultivation in Europe, appropriate research has been undertaken. The aim of the...

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Main Authors: Sławomir Świerczyński, Zofia Zydlik, Tomasz Kleiber
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1680
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author Sławomir Świerczyński
Zofia Zydlik
Tomasz Kleiber
author_facet Sławomir Świerczyński
Zofia Zydlik
Tomasz Kleiber
author_sort Sławomir Świerczyński
collection DOAJ
description The technology of producing fruits containing an increased amount of elements essential for the health of the human body, including silicon, has become very important in recent years. Due to the popularity of apple tree cultivation in Europe, appropriate research has been undertaken. The aim of the experiment was to determine the advisability of foliar silicon nutrition in apple tree cultivation. Apple cultivars ‘Gala Schniga’, ‘Ligol’ and ‘Topaz’ were studied and treated with three different doses of silicon (100, 200, 300 mg SiO<sub>2</sub>·L<sup>−1</sup>). The treatments were performed five times during tree growth in the third year of cultivation from early June to late July. Foliar application of silicon did not improve the evaluated tree growth parameters. It significantly influenced, in the highest analysed concentration, a better fruit yield (12%), a higher yield coefficient, depending on the concentration, from 16 to 18%, a better fruit quality (weight and size) and a more extensive red blush. The considered cultivars differed in the growth and yield of trees in the third year of cultivation. ‘Topaz’ grew strongest and ‘Ligol’ yielded the best. The highest yield coefficient was found for the Topaz’ cultivar. The fruit of ‘Topaz’ had the biggest blush and ‘Gala Schniga’ the biggest sugar content. Macro- and micro-nutrient nutritional status of trees were no better, except for iron and copper in leaves, and at some concentrations of applied silicon also zinc and copper in fruit.
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spelling doaj.art-fbb7cf00117f4f9d89d2c9ab5275cee62023-12-03T14:31:17ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-07-01127168010.3390/agronomy12071680The Influence of Foliar Nutrition of Apple Trees with Silicon on Growth and Yield as Well as Mineral Content in Leaves and FruitsSławomir Świerczyński0Zofia Zydlik1Tomasz Kleiber2Department of Ornamental Plants, Dendrology and Pomology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Ornamental Plants, Dendrology and Pomology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Dąbrowskiego 159, 60-594 Poznan, PolandDepartment of Plant Physiology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 35, 60-637 Poznan, PolandThe technology of producing fruits containing an increased amount of elements essential for the health of the human body, including silicon, has become very important in recent years. Due to the popularity of apple tree cultivation in Europe, appropriate research has been undertaken. The aim of the experiment was to determine the advisability of foliar silicon nutrition in apple tree cultivation. Apple cultivars ‘Gala Schniga’, ‘Ligol’ and ‘Topaz’ were studied and treated with three different doses of silicon (100, 200, 300 mg SiO<sub>2</sub>·L<sup>−1</sup>). The treatments were performed five times during tree growth in the third year of cultivation from early June to late July. Foliar application of silicon did not improve the evaluated tree growth parameters. It significantly influenced, in the highest analysed concentration, a better fruit yield (12%), a higher yield coefficient, depending on the concentration, from 16 to 18%, a better fruit quality (weight and size) and a more extensive red blush. The considered cultivars differed in the growth and yield of trees in the third year of cultivation. ‘Topaz’ grew strongest and ‘Ligol’ yielded the best. The highest yield coefficient was found for the Topaz’ cultivar. The fruit of ‘Topaz’ had the biggest blush and ‘Gala Schniga’ the biggest sugar content. Macro- and micro-nutrient nutritional status of trees were no better, except for iron and copper in leaves, and at some concentrations of applied silicon also zinc and copper in fruit.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1680fruit treesadditional fertilisationfruit qualitynutritional status
spellingShingle Sławomir Świerczyński
Zofia Zydlik
Tomasz Kleiber
The Influence of Foliar Nutrition of Apple Trees with Silicon on Growth and Yield as Well as Mineral Content in Leaves and Fruits
Agronomy
fruit trees
additional fertilisation
fruit quality
nutritional status
title The Influence of Foliar Nutrition of Apple Trees with Silicon on Growth and Yield as Well as Mineral Content in Leaves and Fruits
title_full The Influence of Foliar Nutrition of Apple Trees with Silicon on Growth and Yield as Well as Mineral Content in Leaves and Fruits
title_fullStr The Influence of Foliar Nutrition of Apple Trees with Silicon on Growth and Yield as Well as Mineral Content in Leaves and Fruits
title_full_unstemmed The Influence of Foliar Nutrition of Apple Trees with Silicon on Growth and Yield as Well as Mineral Content in Leaves and Fruits
title_short The Influence of Foliar Nutrition of Apple Trees with Silicon on Growth and Yield as Well as Mineral Content in Leaves and Fruits
title_sort influence of foliar nutrition of apple trees with silicon on growth and yield as well as mineral content in leaves and fruits
topic fruit trees
additional fertilisation
fruit quality
nutritional status
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/7/1680
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