Seasonal uptake of 15N-nitrate and distribution of absorbed nitrogen in peach trees

Abstract

The absorption and distribution of N was measured monthly throught a calendar year in 3-year old peach trees (Prunus persica (L) c.v. Maycrest) grafted on Nemaguard rootstock. Plants were grown on siliceous sand in 500-L pots and fertilized with a solution containing 15N enriched KNO3. During flowering and fruit set (March) approximately 7% of N found in new growth came from the fertilizer and the remainder came from the N stored in the old organs. Maximum N absorption took place during the periods of fruit ripening and maximal vegetative growth (May to August). This nitrogen was relocated from leaves to woody tissues and stored as reserve-N before leaf fall. In the following growth season reserve-N was used for flower development and new shoot growth. The N absorbed during plant dormancy was quite low and remained in the stem bark and roots mainly as soluble-N.