Diagnostic leaf analysis for stone fruit. 3. Nutritional status of peach orchards

Abstract

A three-year survey of the leaf composition of well-managed peach orchards was conducted in New South Wales each January from 1971 to 1973. Of the canning peach orchards surveyed, 47 per cent were deficient or low in nitrogen, 20 per cent were high in potassium, 12 per cent were low in manganese and 6 per cent were high in boron. This represented a considerable improvement over a similar survey in 1966 when comparable figures were nitrogen 83, potassium 84, manganese 33, and boron 34. Of the dessert peach orchards surveyed, 37 per cent were deficient or low in nitrogen, 36 per cent were low in potassium and 32 per cent were low in iron. A few orchards were low in manganese and zinc.