Seasonal Variation of Leaf Nutrient Composition in ‘Tifblue’ Rabbiteye Blueberry1

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
‘Tifblue’ rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) leaves were sampled at 2-week intervals during the growing seasons of 1979 and 1980. Each sample was analyzed for 5 macronutrients and 5 micronutrients. Prediction equations for the estimation of nutrient element content on a growing season basis were calculated. Leaf elemental content patterns correlated closely between years with the exception of Fe. Leaf elemental N, P, and Zn were highest in the early season, tended to decrease until harvest, and leveled off as the growing season progressed. The levels of leaf Ca and Mg remained relatively constant through the season with lowest percentages present during harvest. Leaf contents of K, Mn, and to a lesser extent B and Na, were high during April and early May, low during harvest, and high again in October. Regression analyses for most elements were more linear from late June to early August. Therefore, optimum time for the collection of leaf samples of rabbiteye blueberries for mineral analyses appears to be a 4-week interval coinciding with the last 2 weeks of the harvest season through a 2-week period immediately following harvest.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: