MINERAL NUTRITION OPTIMIZATION WHEN GROWING FRUIT CROP SEEDLINGS IN CONTAINERS

Abstract

Studies at the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato in 2015-2019 have been completed. Information on the nutritional value of soil mixture of various compositions has been obtained. The features of the mineral nitrogen nutrition of seedlings depending on the composition of the soil mixture have been identified. It has been established that the maximum profitability of production is achieved by using fertilizers of controlled release in the composition of the soil mixture on the basis of soil and peat. An increase in the content of macronutrients in the soil mixture has a significant effect on the survival rate of seedlings of fruit crops. Basacote fertilizer has a significant impact on the survival rate, growth and development of apricot, cherry, pear and plum seedlings when grown in small containers. The introduction of the Basacote norm of 2.5 g/l of the substrate into the soil mixture did not lead to a reduction in the survival rate of seedlings of the studied crops compared to the control. Higher Basacote fertilizer rates led to a significant reduction in survival rate. The minimum survival rate of seedlings was noted in the variant with the Basacote fertilizer norm of 7.5 g/l of the substrate and varied from 23.3 % for apricot and plum to 55 % for pear (a very high level of soil nutrition). The maximum yield of marketable seedlings was obtained in the variant with a high level of mineral nutrition: 57.7 % for pears, 50 % for plums, 30 % for cherries and 45.4 % for apricots. The maximum estimated profitability was obtained on the pear and amounted to 120 %.