Bramble Plant Nutrition Eric Hanson, Department of Horticulture

Michigan State University hansone@msu.edu517.355.5191 x1386

Pre-plant Considerations

1. Soil test for pH and nutrient levels 2. Organic matter addition:

cover crops, manure, compost, other organic amendments

Optimum pH Range

4 5 6 7

Blueberry Brambles

1.Lime according to soil tests2.Use dolomitic lime if Mg is low3.Apply and incorporate a year before planting

Pre-plant Phosphorus and Potassium Incorporate prior to planting; base rates on soil tests.

Fertilizer % P2O5 or K2OSuperphosphate 21Concentrated superphosphate 45

Potassium chloride 60-62Potassium sulfate 50-54Potassium-magnesium sulfate 22 (11% Mg)

Gypsum may help control Phytophthora root rot

Gypsum (CaSO4) supplies Ca but does not alter pH. Gypsum reduced raspberry root rot caused by Phytophthora spp. in NY (Maloney et al., 2005) and WA (Pinkerton et al., 2009).

Recommendation:Incorporate 3-6 tons gypsum prior to planting raspberries on sites with a history of Phytophthora root rot.

Gypsum has reduced other Phytophthora diseases.High Ca concentrations specifically inhibit fungal growth and infection of plant tissues.

Pre-plant Manure and Compost Use

Year

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20UreaAmmonium nitrateAmmonium sulfate

02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11

$/lb

N

$1.01

$0.57

$0.58

Average nitrogen fertilizer price trends in the US (USDA, Economic Research Service)

Pre-plant manure and compost –general considerations

Often beneficial, particularly on sandy soils, heavily farmed sites.

Analyze material before applying to avoid:1. Excessive total salts.2. Excessive P or N

3. N tie-up or excess (C:N above 30:1 tie up N) 4. Specific element toxicities (heavy metals, B, Na, Cl)

Apply and incorporate raw manure the fall before spring planting

Avoid manure or compost with salt levels > 10 dS/m. Apply materials with salt levels of 5-10 dS/m in the fall to allow salts to leach.

Manure Use – Avoid Excessive Soil P(Michigan Manure GAAMP’s)

Know soil and manure P levels. (Manure can vary from 10 lb P2O5 per ton to 45 lb)

If soil tests indicate P is needed, apply enough manure to supply 100 to 200 lb P2O5/acre.

If Bray P1 test is 75 to 150 ppm, apply enough manure to replace crop removal.

If the Bray P1 test is above 150 ppm, do not apply manure.

Variation in C:N and salt levels of Michigan composts (J. Biernbaum)

Learn from your mistakes:To provide adequate nutrition for a new organic raspberry planting under high tunnels, we incorporated 10 tons of a fortified dairy compost in the rows before planting.

Injury to newly planted high tunnel raspberries from compost incorporated before planting at 10 tons/acre.

Compost Analysis

pHEC

(dS m-1) C:N ratio N (%)6.9 14.05 7.9:1 2.92

Raspberry Tissue SamplingCollect 50-75 mature leaves from middle of primocanes in August

Rinse briefly in tap water.

Dry on table top.

Send to reputable lab for nutrient

analysis.

Desired Leaf Nutrient Levels for Raspberries and Blackberries

% PPMN 2.0 – 2.8 B 30-90P 0.25 – 0.40 Cu 7-20K 1.5 – 2.5 Fe 60-250Ca 0.7 – 1.7 Mn 50-200Mg 0.3 – 0.5 Zn 20-50

For efficient N use, choose the right: 1. fertilizer 2. rate 3. timing 4. placement

Nitrogen ManagementNearly all brambles need N annually

Hart et al., 2006. EM 8903-EOregon St. Univ. Ext

N Fertilizers

Source %N Reaction

Lime equivalent(lb lime/lb N)*

Ammonium nitrate 32 acidic -1.8

Ammonium sulfate 21 acidic -5.3

Calcium nitrate 16 basic 1.3

Potassium nitrate 12 basic 1.9

Urea 46 acidic -1.8

DAP 17 acidic -4.1

MAP 11 acidic -3.5

blends variable variable variable

*Lb lime equivalent to alkalinity from 1 lb N (positive values) or required to neutralize the acidity from 1 lb N (negative values)

Soil salt levels based on saturated paste extract potentially causing yield reductions in fruit crops.*Crop Soil EC (dS/m)**Olives 2.7Grapefruit 1.8Apple/pear/peach 1.7Apricots 1.6Grapes 1.5Blackberries 1.5Raspberries/strawberries 1.0Blueberries ??*Western Fertilizer Handbook (1990)**1 dS/m = 1 mmho/cm

Salt index values for some common N fertilizer

Fertilizer % N Salt index*Salt index per unit N

Ammonium nitrate 33 105 300Ammonium sulfate 21 69 328Calcium nitrate 12 53 442Di-ammonium phosphate 18 29 161Mono-ammonium phosphate 11 27 245Natural organic 13 3.5 70UAN 28% 28 71 222Urea 46 75 162* Salt index is the increase in osmotic pressure resulting addition of fertilizer to a solution, relative to affect of the same amount of NaNO3 (SI = 100).

After: Kamburova and Kirilov, 2008

N Sources and RatesSources Urea and ammonium nitrate are usually cheapest and best.

Rates (lb/acre) (higher rates on sandy soils and fall bearing types)

Yr 1 Yr 2 Yr 3 and older20-40 30-60 50-100

Harvest

April May June July August

N Timing – Brambles 1. Heavier, fertile soils: all at bud break (April-May) 2. Sandy soils: half at bud break, half 3-4 weeks later

Bud break

1st year plants Apply in a 2-3 ft wide circle

or a band

Nitrogen Placement - Brambles

Established plants Broadcastor band

PotassiumBrambles have a high demand for K; regular applications are usually needed.

Choose K sources based on: 1. conventional or organic 2. cost per unit of K2O 3. need for other nutrients

4. potential hazard from chlorine

K fertilizers % K2O CommentsPotassium chloride 60-62 Chloride hazardPotassium sulfate 50-54 Moderate expenseSul-Po-Mag 22 (11% Mg) Expensive

K deficiency (T. Wallace)

Rates based on soil tests, generally: 100-200 lb K2O per acre to correct most shortages 50-100 lb K2O per acre for maintenance

Timing: anytime Fall application is best for KCl (muriate) to allow time for Cl to leach.

Potassium

Excessive K use can cause Mg shortages.

Ca, Mg, K Ratios are important Desired ranges for % of Bases

Ca60-70%

Mg20-30%

K10-20%

PhosphorusFertilizers % P2O5

Superphosphate 21Concentrated superphosphate 45Di-ammonium phosphate 46Mono-ammonium phosphate 52

Magnesium and Calcium Ca and Mg Sources % Mg % Ca % KMagnesium sulfate (epsom salts) 10Calcium sulfate (gypsum) 22Potassium-magnesium sulfate 11 22Calcitic lime <5 >30Dolomitic lime >5 <30

If pH is too low, use dolomitic or calcitic lime. If pH is appropriate, use gypsum for Ca, or epsom salts or potassium magnesium sulfate for Mg.Apply whenever need is determined.

Calcium and Fruit QualityElevated tissue Ca is often associated with improved quality:

- reduced incidence of some fruit disorders (bitter pit in apple fruit) - increased firmness (Ca inhibits enzymes that degrade cell walls when tissues senescence). - reduced rot caused several fungal pathogens (Ca may inhibit fungal enzymes that degrade tissues)

Ca affects on raspberry quality: - pre-harvest Ca sprays have increased firmness, prolonged

shelf-life, and/or reduced Botrytis rot, but not consistently.

Boron

Foliar spray of 2 lb Solubor (20% B) per acre in June Soil spray of 3 lb Solubor in spring. Soil application of 5 lb borax (11% B) in spring.

Brambles are sensitive to excess B; apply proper rates if soil or leaf analyses show a need.

Application options:

Shortages may cause poor shoot grown, reduced fruit set,or fruit deformities

IronDeficiencies only occur when soil pH is too high; best treatment usually is to reduce pH.

Foliar sprays of Fe chelate products relieve some leaf symptoms, but don’t usually improve vigor.

ManganeseNot often deficient. High soil pH limits availability. Treatments (if leaf analyses indicate a need): 1. Check and reduce pH if it is too high. 2. Foliar sprays of manganese sulfate or Mn-chelates. 3. Maneb, Dithane, and Manzate fungicides contain Mn.

Not often deficient. Most likely on sandy, high pH soils.

Treatments (if leaf analysis indicates a need): 1. Check and reduce pH if it is too high. 2. Apply foliar sprays of Zn sulfate or Zn chelate products. 3. Ziram fungicide contains Zn and can be a good sources

Zinc

Copper, MolybdenumDeficiencies have not been documented in Midwest or Eastern brambles.

If leaf analysis indicate Cu is deficient:Fixed copper fungicides (e.g. Kocide, Champ) are suitable sources of Cu for labeled crops.Copper salts can potentially injure tissues so test on a few plants before using widely.

FertigationInjecting fertilizers through trickle irrigation systems can be convenient and efficient.

Most useful for delivering N and sometimes K and P.

Advantages DisadvantagesGreater control over nutrient placement and timing

Capital costs: injector, tanks, backflow valve

Improved efficiency; less fertilizer required (if not over-irrigating)

Maintenance (tanks, line plugging) and calibration

Solubility of some common fertilizersFertilizer Solubility (lb/gal)*Ammonium nitrate (33-0-0) 16.0Ammonium sulfate (21-0-0) 6.2Calcium nitrate 15-0-0) 11.2Di-ammonium phosphate (21-54-0) 5.7Mono-ammonium phosphate (11-48-0) 3.1Urea (45-0-0) 8.8

Potassium chloride (0-0-60) 2.1Potassium sulfate (0-0-48) 0.9* At 70 oF. Solubility of all materials is lower in colder water.

1. Mixtures may reduce the solubility of some salts2. Do not mix calcium with sulfates or phosphates. Use a “jar test” to test for precipitates.3. Soluble blended fertilizers may be easiest.

Suggested N Fertigation –Brambles 1. Reduce annual rate by 1/3 (assume improved efficiency)

BB Harvest

April May June July August

2. Split annual rate into multiple applications starting 2-3 weeks after budbreak and continuing into August

Fertigation is very efficient if:1. Irrigation system has high uniformity 2. Nutrients are applied when demand is high3. Plants are not over-watered (leaches nutrients).

1. Utilize soil tests, leaf analysis2. Follow local recommendations3. Trying something new? Leave

non-treated “check areas”.

Questions, Comments??