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CDFA Inspection Services Division

Prune and Plum Nitrogen Uptake and Partitioning

Crops:

Almonds

Barley

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Citrus

Corn for Grain

Corn for Silage

Cotton

Grapevines

Lettuce

Pistachio

Prune and Plum

Rice

Strawberries

Tomatoes

Walnut

Wheat

Seasonal N Uptake



Nitrogen in prune trees (adapted from Weinbaum et al., 1994). Nitrogen uptake from soil is minimal during dormancy and low during bud swell. Nitrogen uptake is greatest during the summer and early fall (Weinbaum et al., 1978).

Nitrogen Partitioning



Nitrogen distribution in 12-year old heavily cropping prune trees. Whole trees were excavated and analyzed at prune harvest (Weinbaum et al., 1994).

Nitrogen Removed at Harvest

Nitrogen removed with harvested fruits. The value includes all nutrients removed in fruits and pits.

References

Brown, P.H. Niederholzer, F., Sepulveda R., 2014. Development of nutrient management tools for prunes. Report submitted to the California Dried Plum Board.

Niederholzer, F., 2014. Efficient Nitrogen Management in Prune Production. Glenn County Orchard Facts, April 2014.

Southwick, S.M., Rupert, M.E., Yeager, J.T., Weis, K.G., DeJong, T., Shackel, K., Bonin, A., 1996. Nitrogen fertigation of young prune trees and effects on horticultural performance: 1996 Final report. Report submitted to the California Dried Plum Board.

Weinbaum, S.A., Merwin, M.L., Muraoka, T.T., 1978. Seasonal variation in nitrate uptake efficiency and distribution of absorbed nitrogen in non-bearing prune trees. Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science 103, 516-519.

Weinbaum, S.A., Niederholzer, F.J.A., Ponchner, S., Rosecrance, R.C., Carlson, R.M., Whittlesey, A.C., Muraoka, T.T., 1994. Nutrient uptake by cropping and defruited field-grown 'French' prune trees. Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science 119, 925-930.

Wooldridge, J., Schutte, C., 2003. Effect of planting density on dry matter partitioning in young 'Laetitia' / 'Marianna' plum trees grown in lysimeter tanks. South African Journal of Plant and Soil 20, 6-10.