Nutrient Absorption by Citrus unshiu Marc. Grown in Out-Door Solution Culture

Nutrients and water absorption by Citrus unshiu Marc. cv. Miyagawa Wase were examined using spray type of out-door hydroponics system. Three different concentration levels of nutrient solution were treated to citrus trees to examine nutrient uptake. To do so, concentration and the volume change of nutrient solution was measured for each treatment. By weighing the volume of solution and citrus trees, amounts of water uptake and fresh weight increase were observed periodically. Water uptake by trees increased as tree grew and time elapsed, but was lower at high level of nutrient concentration than the rest, due partly to the reduction in hydraulic conductance and to the sustained high salt concentration. Rapid increase in fresh weight and nutrient uptake occurred from May to July and from August to September. The amounts of nutrient uptake were significantly different among nutrient levels: the higher concentration, the greater uptake by citrus tree. The absorbed amounts of , K and Ca were much higher than those of , S, P, Mg, and Fe. Most mineral contents in leaves were proportional to the concentration of supplied nutrient solutions. From the results of nutrient absorption and contents in leaves at different levels of nutrient solutions, the composition of major elements for citrus nutrient solution can be modified as follows: 27.1, 16.5, 66.0, 80.0, and for N, P, K, Ca, and Mg, respectively.