EFFECT OF FERTIGATION AND HYDROGEN CYANAMIDE ON FRUIT PRODUCTION, NUTRIENT-UPTAKE, AND FRUIT-QUALITY IN KIWIFRUIT

In a 3-year field trial, kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) vines receive d 40% of their nutrient requirements by fertigation and the rest as so lid fertiliser. All plots received 158 kg/ha nitrogen (N) and 294 kg/h a potassium (K). After 3 years the vines receiving fertigation showed no advantage over those receiving a conventional solid fertiliser prog ramme in yield, or leaf nutrient levels for kiwifruit. The quality of fruit from vines supplied with or without fertigation was assessed at harvest, and at several times during 22-week storage trials. Fruit app eared relatively unaffected by fertigation, and no difference in stora ge behaviour of the fruit was recorded. The interaction between fertil iser response and crop load was investigated by applying hydrogen cyan amide to create two crop loads. Hydrogen cyanamide increased fruit num bers by c. 30% in 2 out of 3 years, but had little effect on the respo nse to fertigation.