Effect of Selected concentrations of calcium bicarbonate on expression of HLB in the greenhouse and grove

Effect of Selected concentrations of calcium bicarbonate on expression of HLB in the greenhouse and grove

Report Date: 05/06/2016
Project: 838   Year: 2016
Category: ACP Vector
Author: Kelly Morgan
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

Two citrus groves, one – 20 year-old Hamlin sweet orange trees predominately on Swingle rootstock and a second consisting of three year old Hamlin sweet orange trees on Swingle rootstock have received acid injection to selected blocks with and without sulfur applications for twenty-four months. Irrigation water was acidified at one of four target water pH (7.5, 6.0, 5.0, and 4.0). A controlled released form of elemental sulfur (Tiger 90) was allied at a rate of 500 pounds per treated acre to plots receiving either acidified irrigation water or control plots receiving irrigation water that was not acidified in December. Significant increases in nutrient concentrations of leaves collected in March 2016 were found in plots at both sites with reduced water and/or soil pH. Average mature leaf calcium concentrations have increased by 13.6% from an average of 2.32% when the study began in 2013 to 3.37% in the spring 2016 samples. Similar increases in leaf Mg (5.7%), Zn (16.9%), Fe (11.1%), Mn (8.6%), and B (7.8%) were found compared with no substantial increase in leaf nutrient concentrations for the control trees with no irrigation water or soil pH moderation. These results may indicate increased nutrient uptake from soils with soil solutions below 6.5 and is presumed to be because of lower soil pH levels (4.0 to 6.0). Average water uptake by trees affected with HLB continued to be 20%-25% lower than healthy trees in the greenhouse lysimeters. Water uptake for trees receiving water supplemented with calcium bicarbonate was significantly reduced (10-15%) compared with health trees but not to the extent found in the HLB affected trees. For the first time, tree root densities were significantly different for healthy trees irrigated with water supplemented with calcium carbonate (1.2 cm/cm3) when compared with healthy trees irrigated without supplemental calcium carbonate(2.1 cm/cm3). Tree size were similar for HLB affected and healthy trees irrigated with calcium carbonate but significantly smaller than healthy trees not receiving modified irrigation water.


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