Studies on nutrient contents and seasonal element fluctuations of the olive variety Gemlik in Bursa area

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the seasonal variations in macronutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) of leaves and fruits of the 'Gemlik' olive variety during two years, when they were productive and non-productive, so as to develop our present knowledge about soil, leaf and fruit interactions, to learn at different physiological states, seasonal variations in nutrient contents of leaves, their stable periods, and to define the most proper leaf-sampling time. Leaf and fruit samples were obtained from 7 different olive orchards in 4 locations. Leaf samples were taken during productive and non-productive years regularly, once every month and fruit samples (as fruit flesh and pit) were taken from August till December in both years. The results can be summarised as follows: The most proper sampling period for determining the nutritional status of Gemlik variety by using leaf samples 5th of January till the 5th of February. When the seasonal trends of macro-nutrient contents of leaves, fruit flesh and pits were concurrently investigated, it was seen that while N, P, K and Mg contents of the fruit flesh increased, N P K and Mg in the leaves decreased. Ca, on the contrary, decreased in the fruit flesh from the first phases of fruit growth up to harvest but showed increase in the leaves. N, P, K and Ca contents of the pits decreased until harvest time in contrast to Mg which showed an increasing trend.