Estimated annual removal of macronutrients in fruit and prunings from a kiwifruit orchard

Abstract
Removal of macronutrients from a 10-year-old kiwifruit orchard cropping at 16.5 t/ha was estimated by using measurements of the yield and composition of fruit and of the quantity and composition of prunings. Macronutrients removed in fruit were 24 kg N, 3.5 kg P, 4.7 kg Ca, 2.0 kg Mg, and 48 kg K/ha. Potential outflows of nutrients could be several times higher in orchards producing heavier crops and would be further increased by removal of summer and winter prunings.