Studies on soils fertility and tree nutritional status in chestnut groves
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abstract
In the northeast of Portugal, the soils where the olive trees are usually grown are mostly acidic. in accordance with the results of soil analyzes the laboratories used to recommend the application of limestone. However, it is not experimentally
demonstrated if the varieties grown in the region are well adapted to soil acidity or if they respond to the application of
limestone. Three experiments were carried out to test the response of cv. Cobrancosa, one of the most popular cultivars in the
region, to the lime application. One field trial was carried out in a commercial young orchard (three-years-old). A second field
trial was installed on a plantation devoted exclusively to the experiment. Two fertilizer treatments were imposed in each one
of these experiments: lime application; and control. The third trial consisted of a pot experiment where five different soils were
used (pH varying between 4.7 and 5.8) and two fertilizer treatments were imposed (lime application and control). After three
years of observations, the field trials showed a slight but consistent increase in the growth and olive yield (in experiment l) in
the amended plots but the differences did not have statistical significance. Leaf calcium significantly increased in all amended
plots in comparison to controls. Soil available phosphorus (Egner-Riehm) also increased with liming.
