Browsing by Subject "rutabaga"

Brown-heart disorder in rutabaga is a boron deficiency syndrome that renders the inside of the roots brown and makes the crop unfit for market. The connection between boron deficiency and brown-heart was first reported in 1930’s. Brown-heart continues to be a concern for rutabaga growers all over the World, especially in Northern Europe, Canada, United States of America and New Zealand. The aim of this thesis was to compare the effects of various methods of applying boron, in terms of rutabaga yield and brown-heart. The field experiments were done in 2013 and 2014 on Räpi research farm of Apetit Ruoka Oyj in municipality of Köyliö, as part of collaboration between Apetit Ruoka Oyj and Yara Suomi Oyj. The companies aimed to find the best fertilizer solution for the prevention of brown-heart in rutabagas. Treatments were either fertilizer placement or broadcast application. In addition, foliar spraying treatment was used. Nutrient levels of the soil were analysed before planting and after harvest. The nutrient levels of rutabaga leaves before harvest, and nutrient levels of rutabaga roots by the time of harvest, were analysed. Additionally, the yield and number of rutabagas with brown-heart were determined. In experiments done in 2013, the effect of boron treatment on yield was statistically insignificant. In 2014, the fertilizer placement increased the yield as compared to broadcast application. In 2013 the number rutabagas with brown-heart disorder was significantly less within the samples treated with fertilizer placement, as compared to samples treated with broadcast applications. In 2014 the overall number of rutabagas with brown-heart was low, and the differences between treatments were statistically insignificant. Of the rutabaga boron treatments compared in this thesis, the fertilizer placement was more efficient than the broadcast application. Generally, the effect of foliar spraying treatment on yield or quality of the rutabagas was insignificant. In order to achieve high quality rutabaga crop, applying boron with fertilizer placement simultaneous to sowing, is recommended.