Soil Properties and Mineral Nutrients of Clementine Mandarine (Citrus reticulata Blanco) Grown in the Koycegiz Region of Mugla Province

Abstract

Soil properties of the samples from orchards and the nutrients (macro- and microelements) in the clementine mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco), widely grown in the Köyceğiz region of Muğla Province Turkey, were studied. Mandarin tree leaves and soil samples were collected from 10 different orchards. The soil samples were analyzed for its pH, CaCO3, EC, sand, organic matter, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu) and boron (B) while leaves were analyzed for its macro- and microelements. The results obtained from soil analysis showed suitable amount of calcium carbonate and EC. Analysis of the soil showed that organic matter, N, K and Mn were insufficient in all orchards, while Fe was higher in amount. Slight alkaline, strong alkaline and neutral pHs were determined in the orchards. Besides, the leaf samples collected from the orchards reflected deficient amount of N and Ca while higher amount of Mg and Fe.