Nutrient status of the American cranberry in Latvia (2005–2016)
Institute of Biology, University of Latvia, Laboratory of Plant Mineral Nutrition, Miera street 3, Salaspils, Salaspils municipality, LV-2169, Latvia
*Correspondence: andis.karlsons@lu.lv
Abstract:
The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) is an evergreen groundcover plant native to North America. Nowadays cranberries are successfully cultivated in Latvia with total plantings of more than 125 ha. Being a native wetland plant, cranberries are considered as nutrients low requiring crop, however, balanced mineral nutrition is one of the key factors that determine plant growth and yield development. Surveys were carried out to determine the actual status and trends in mineral nutrition of American cranberries in Latvia during 2005–2016. Together 190 plant samples were collected from different cranberry producing sites in Latvia over 3 periods: 2005–2007, 2008–2011 and 2012–2016. Cranberry tissue analyses were used as diagnostics method to control plant nutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, B) status. The obtained results revealed notable nutrient imbalance in the years of the study. In general, our results suggest that only about 50% of plant tissue nutrient indices were in the sufficient range. Deficiency of N P, S, Fe, Cu, and Mo, and high levels of Mn was found in the majority of samples analyzed. In general, diverse tendencies were stated for the nutrient supply of cranberries from 2005 to 2016: positive trend in nutrient status of cranberry crop were found for N, K, Ca, while mean concentrations of S, Fe and Mo, as well as frequency of optimal indices decreased. The small count of nutrient indices in high till toxic range suggested on environmentally sound way of cranberry fertilization practices in Latvia.
Key words:
mineral nutrition, plant analysis, Vaccinium macrocarpon A.