Journals / Toprak Bilimi ve Bitki Besleme Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 14 Sayı: 1

Nutritional status of apple trees (Malus domestica) in Duhok, Northern Iraq

Kuzey Irak Duhok'ta elma ağaçlarının (Malus domestica) beslenme durumu

Bekas Yousif Hussein(Duhok Polytechnic University, Technical College of Administration, Duhok, IRAQ)0009-0006-5956-5489
Füsun Gülser(VAN YÜZÜNCÜ YIL ÜNİVERSİTESİ, ZİRAAT FAKÜLTESİ, TOPRAK BİLİMİ VE BİTKİ BESLEME BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0002-9495-8839
Pages
70–75
Publication Date
2026-06-26
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In general, deficiencies in the elements K, Ca, Zn, and Cu were detected in leaf samples taken from different locations.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This research was conducted as a field study in apple orchards in Duhok province in northern Iraq.
📊
Key Findings & Data:To determine the nutritional status of apple trees, leaf samples were taken from five apple trees selected from each orchard, and the plant nutrient element contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn) were determined in leaf samples taken from a total of 60 apple trees.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:In general, deficiencies in the elements K, Ca, Zn, and Cu were detected in leaf samples taken from different locations.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Elma ağacı · yaprak · makro besin elementi

Abstract

This research was conducted as a field study in apple orchards in Duhok province in northern Iraq. The study was carried out in twelve orchards, three apple orchards selected in each of four different villages (Bagira, Babire, Dillia, and Kanimassi) in Duhok province. A GPS system was used to determine the coordinates of each sampling point. To determine the nutritional status of apple trees, leaf samples were taken from five apple trees selected from each orchard, and the plant nutrient element contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn) were determined in leaf samples taken from a total of 60 apple trees. The N and Fe contents of leaf samples taken from different locations were found as adequate, ranging from 1.9% to 2.1% and 129 mgkg-1 to 135 mgkg-1, respectively. The K, Zn, and Cu contents in the leaf samples were found as deficient, ranging from 1.1% to 1.2%, 12.3 mgkg-1 to 17.1 mgkg-1, and 2.1 mgkg-1 to 3.5 mgkg-1, respectively. The highest P content was determined in Kanimassi at 0.3-0.4%, while the 0.2% P content in Dilia 2 and Bagera 3 gardens was found to be at a sufficient level. Mg content was determined as at sufficient levels in plant leaves at all sampling points except Babire 2, while Ca content was determined as sufficient only in leaf samples taken from Kanimassi 2. Mn content was found as at sufficient levels in samples from villages other than Bagera. In general, deficiencies in the elements K, Ca, Zn, and Cu were detected in leaf samples taken from different locations.

Özet

Bu araştırma Irak'ın kuzeyindeki Duhok ilinde elma bahçelerinde bir saha çalışması olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırma Duhok ilinin dört farklı köyünde (Bagira, Babire, Dillia ve Kanimassi), her bir köyde seçilen üç elma bahçesi olmak üzere on iki adet bahçede yürütülmüştür. Her bir örnekleme noktasının koordinatlarını belirlemek için GPS sistemi kullanılmıştır. Elma ağaçlarının beslenme durumunu belirlemek amacıyla, her bir bahçeden seçilen beş adet elma ağacından yaprak örnekleri alınmış ve toplamda 60 elma ağacından alınan yaprak örneklerinde bitki besin element (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn ve Zn) içerikleri belirlenmiştir. Farklı lokasyonlardan alınan yaprak örneklerinin N ve Fe içerikleri sırası ile %1.9 – 2.1 ve 129 – 135 mgkg-1 aralığında ve yeterli düzeyde bulunmuştur. Yaprak örneklerinde K, Zn ve Cu içerikleri sırası ile % 1.1 - 1.2, 12.3 - 17.1 mgkg-1 ve 2.1 - 3.5 mgkg-1 aralığında bulunmuş ve noksan olarak değerlendirilmiştir. En yüksek P içerikleri Kanimassi’de %0.3-0.4 aralığında belirlenirken Dilia 2 ve Bagera 3 bahçelerindeki %0.2 P içerikleri yeterli seviyede bulunmuştur. Yaprak Mg içerikleri Babire 2 hariç bütün örnekleme noktalarında yeterli düzeyde belirlenirken, Ca içerikleri sadece Kanimassi 2’ den alınan yaprak örneklerinde yeterli olarak belirlenmiştir. Mn içerikleri Bagera dışındaki köylere ait örneklerde yeterli düzeyde bulunmuştur. Genel olarak farklı lokasyonlardan alınan yaprak örneklerinde K, Ca, Zn ve Cu element noksanlığı saptanmıştır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Hussein, B. Y., Gülser, F. (2026). Nutritional status of apple trees (Malus domestica) in Duhok, Northern Iraq. Toprak Bilimi ve Bitki Besleme Dergisi, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 1, 70–75. https://doi.org/10.33409/tbbbd.1960792

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (31)

  1. Amado J, Pérez‐Cutillas P, Cejudo LCA, Alarcón JJ. 2019. A study of the nutritional diagnosis on apple crops using multispectral indices in a semi-arid environment (Chihuahua, Mexico). Esp. Tiempo Forma Ser. VI Geogr. 12:17.
  2. Araujo L, Bispo WS, Rios VS, Fernandes SA, Rodrigues FA. 2015. Induction of the phenylpropanoid pathway by acibenzolar-S-methyl and K phosphite increases mango resistance to Ceratocystis fimbriata infection. Plant Dis. 99:447-459.
  3. Bhat ZA, Padder SA, Ganaie AQ, Dar NA, Rehman HU, Wani MY. 2017. Correlation of available nutrients with physico-chemical properties and nutrient content of grape orchards of Kashmir. J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem. 6(2):181-185.
  4. Cochrane TT, Cochrane TA. 2009. The vital role of K in the osmotic mechanism of stomata aperture modulation and its links with K deficiency. Plant Signal. Behav. 4:240-243.
  5. DMD 2008. Meteorology of Duhok City. Duhok Meteorological Directorate, Duhok Province, Iraq. El-Boray MSS, Mostafa MFM, Abd El-Galel MM, Somaa IAI. 2015. Effect of humic acid, fulvic acid with some nutrients at different time of application on yield and fruit quality of Anna apple trees. J. Plant Prod. 6(3):307-321.
  6. Gülser E, Tüfenkçi Ş, Demir S. 2014. Domateste potasyum, salisilik asit ve humik asit uygulamalarının fide çıkışı ve Fusarium solgunluğuna (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici) etkileri. YYÜ Tarım Bil. Derg. 24(1):16-22.
  7. Gülser F, Karaçal İ. 2015. Organik ve inorganik yapılı demir ve çinko bileşiklerinin elma ağaçlarında meyve kalitesine etkilerinin karşılaştırılması. Toprak Bil. Bitki Besleme Derg. 3(2):64-68.
  8. Gülser F, Salem S, Gülser C. 2020. Changes in some soil properties of wheat fields under conventional and reduced tillage systems in Northern Iraq. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 9(4), pp.314-320.
  9. Hong-fu X, Li S, Ma W, Lu S, Bian Z, Liang G, Chen B. 2025. Spraying foliar fertilizer affect the physiological function of leaf and improve the quality of 'Snick' apple. Plants 14(18):2926.
  10. Hussein BY, Gülser F. 2023. Determination of soil properties of apple orchard in Duhok Province, Northern Iraq. EJONS Int. J. Math. Eng. Nat. Sci. 7(4):672-678.
  11. Jakhro MI, Habib M, Zhai B, Li Z. 2025. Advancing apple orchard management through soil organic carbon: A systems-based review. Soil Use Manag. 41(1).
  12. Jia Q, Zheng C, Sun S, Amjad H, Liang K, Lin W. 2018. The role of plant cation/proton antiporter gene family in salt tolerance. Biol. Plant. 62:617-629.
  13. Jung J, Shin R, Schlachtmann DP. 2009. Ethylene mediates response and tolerance to K deprivation in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 21:607-621.
  14. Kacar B, İnal A. 2008. Bitki Analizleri. Nobel Yayın Dağıtım, Ankara.
  15. Khorram MS, Zhang G, Fatemi A, Kiefer R, Maddah K, Baqar M, Zakaria MP, Li G. 2018. Impact of biochar and compost amendment on soil quality, growth and yield of a replanted apple orchard in a 4-year field study. J. Sci. Food Agric. 99(4):1862-1869.
  16. Kuzin AI, Solovchenko A. 2021. Essential role of potassium in apple and its implications for management of orchard fertilization. Plants 10(12):2624.
  17. Marschner H. 1995. Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants. 2nd Ed. Academic Press, London.
  18. Matsuoka K. 2020. Methods for nutrient diagnosis of fruit trees early in the growing season by using simultaneous multi-element analysis. Hortic. J. 89(3):197-207.
  19. Milošević T, Milošević N. 2015. Apple fruit quality, yield and leaf macronutrients content as affected by fertilizer treatment. J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 15(1):76-83.
  20. Milošević T, Milošević N. 2019. Tree vigor, yield, fruit quality, and antioxidant capacity of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) influenced by different fertilization regimes: Preliminary results. Turk. J. Agric. For. 43(1):48-57.
  21. Minitab® 2014. Minitab 16 English (30-Day Trial) for Windows. Minitab Inc., State College, PA, USA.
  22. Nagy PT, Ambrus A, Nyéki J, Soltész M, Szabó Z. 2012. Effect of foliar spraying with algae suspension on leaf and fruit quality parameters of apple varieties. Int. J. Hortic. Sci. 18(1).
  23. Peng HX, Wei XY, Xiao YX, Sun Y, Biggs AR, Gleason ML, Shang SP, Zhu MQ, Guo YZ, Sun GY. 2016. Management of valsa canker on apple with adjustments to K nutrition. Plant Dis. 100:884-889.
  24. Perrenoud S. 1990. Potassium and Plant Health. International Potash Institute, Bern, Switzerland.
  25. Savita S, Rangappa K, Ngangom B, Devi MT, Mishra G, Rawat D, Srivastava PC. 2016. Diagnosis and recommendation integrated system (DRIS) approach on nutritional diagnosis in fruit crops: A review. J. Appl. Nat. Sci. 8(4):2337-2345.
  26. Świetlik D. 2002. Zinc nutrition of fruit crops. HortTechnology 12(1):45-50.
  27. Talbot LD, Zeiger E. 1996. Central roles for K and sucrose in guard-cell osmoregulation. Plant Physiol. 111:1051-1057.
  28. Tränker M, Tavakol A, Jákli B. 2018. Functioning of K and magnesium in photosynthesis, photosynthate translocation and photoprotection. Physiol. Plant. 163:414-431.
  29. Veberič R, Vodnik D, Štampar F. 2005. Influence of foliar-applied phosphorus and potassium on photosynthesis and transpiration of ‘Golden Delicious’ apple leaves (Malus domestica Borkh.). Acta Agric. Slov. 85(1).
  30. Wang M, Zheng Q, Shen Q, Guo S. 2013. The critical role of K in plant stress response. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 14:7370-7390.
  31. Yu XM, Wang J, Nie P, Xue X, Wang G, An M. 2018. Control efficacy of Ca-containing foliar fertilizers on bitter pit in bagged ‘Fuji’ apple and effects on the Ca and N contents of apple fruits and leaves. J. Sci. Food Agric. 98(14):5435-5443.