Fertiliser Recommendations for Horticultural Crops
The large fruited varieties of gooseberry now being cultivated are derived from the English or European gooseberry. Very little is written about the nutrition of gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa) and recommendations are often made based on those for blackcurrants.
PLANT ANALYSIS
Limited data is available for this crop. Leaf analyses should be standardised as the youngest mature leaves from current season's growth. Petioles should be included, and samples collected during the January/February period.
FERTILISER REQUIREMENTS
In line with recommendations for blackcurrants, the following rates of fertiliser are suggested as being suitable for New Zealand conditions, the actual quantitites to be applied being determined from the crop load anticipated and the nutrient status of the soil as measured by MAF soil test (Table 1).
| Element | MAF Soil Test | Application Rate* (kg/ha) |
|
Nitrogen
Phosphorus Potassium |
-
> 15
> 20 |
50
-
- |
* The values assume a crop load of 10 tonne/ha. To determine the quantity of fertiliser required for other crop loads, these figures should be scaled up or down according to the anticipated yield. | ||
A pH range of 6.0-6.5 is considered desirable for gooseberries.
NUTRIENT DISORDERS
Gooseberries have a high K requirement. Leaves with K deficiency (K < 0.90%) become bluish green with purple tints prior to the appearance of a marginal scorch or necrosis.
Despite warnings that only sulphate forms should be used on berryfruits, no damage has resulted in the UK where compound fertilisers based on potassium chloride have been used. It is recommended however that preplant soil applications be in the sulphate form.
FURTHER READING
Gardiner, R. (1977). Bush Fruits. Bulletin 4, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, HMSO, London. pp103.
Ljones, B. (1966). Bush fruits nutrition. In: Temperate to Tropical Fruit Nutrition (Childers, N.F., ed), Horticultural Publications, Rutgers - The State University, USA. pp130-157.