Soil fertility and nutrition status of apple orchards in Iğdır province

Igdir plain has a significant potential in terms of agricultural production because of the microclimate features. Many product groups can be grown in the agriculture area, especially apple cultivation an important place in the agriculture sector in recent years. The sector development has gained great momentum with the use of high quality semi-dwarf and dwarf varieties through the last 10 years, but plant nutrition and fertilization process has not been matched in pace this momentum. In this study, soil fertility and nutritional problems of Apple orchards with established with Granny Smith, Starking, Golden and other (Red Chief, Rome Beauty, Gala, Starcrimson) which are widely grown in the Igdir province were investigated with soil and plant analysis. For this purpose, leaf samples from young shoots and soil samples from 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm depth have been taken form the larger than 5 acres 29 apple orchards to represent the region in July and August and were ready for analysis. Some analyzes which are texture, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter content, lime content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total nitrogen, plants suitable phosphorus vary calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, plants suitable iron, copper, zinc and manganese were performed on soil samples. According to the findings; Almost all the apple orchard which is sampled has been identified clayey and no salinity problems. pH values of the soil samples ranged between 7.5 and 8.4, Lime contents of soil samples were too much and organic matter contents were found to be too low. It was determined to be below the required level of nitrogen and plant suitable phosphorus content for plant development. In contrast, tehere is no problem in terms of exchangeable Ca, Mg, K and Na quantity. The microelements content of the soil have been examined and Fe, Mn and Cu quantities have been found sufficient and Zn amount has been insufficient. N and P remained below the qualification limit in all samples when the leaf analysis results evaluated. In contrast, there is no problem in terms of K, Ca, Zn, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn and Cu nutrition in the sampled orchards except one.