Production and composition of oranges cv. Lane Late under maintenance potassium fertilization

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the production and composition of oranges from cv. Lane Late trees submitted to maintenance potassium fertilization. The experiment was conducted in an orchard of cv. Lane Late at Rosário do Sul (RS). The orange trees were submitted to supplementation with 0, 50 or 100% of the recommended dose of K2 O in each crop season from 2008/2009 to 2011/2012. Fruit production, fruit diameter, peel thickness, juice volume and juice, leaf and soil K levels were assessed in the 2008/2009, 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 crop seasons. Fruit composition parameters were assessed in the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 crop seasons. The application of increasing doses of potassium to cv. Lane Late orange trees for three crop seasons had no effect on fruit production. However, soil supplementation with potassium increased the total nutrient levels in the leaves and juice.