Lab of Soil Fertility and Plant Mineral Nutrition

 Objectives

Experiment on olive fertilization

 Studies on the mineral nutrition of olive, citrus, subtropical plants and vegetable crops with the use of field fertilisation experiments and leaf analysis.

 Study of growth and fruitfulness of various crops.

 Study of factors affecting fruit and vegetable quality.

 Evaluation of the effectiveness of different substances for the correction of nutritional disorders of plants.

 Identification and correction of deficiencies in tree crops.

 Results

Study on Avocado flower biology

 Rational application of fertilisers with the use of leaf analysis and environment friendly fertilizing practices.

 Foliar nutrition of crops and restriction of chemical fertiliser use in orchards and greenhouses.

 Identification of deficiencies of avocado, olive, citrus and vegetable crops and issuing of guidelines to farmers for their correction.

 Improvement of avocado productivity with the application of girdling.

 Increase of avocado fruitsetting with the use of growth regulators and other substances.

 Increased yield and improved quality on the major crops in the area of Crete.

 Research Projects

  "Effects of REGALIS on olive tree growth, physiology, mineral nutrition and resistance to pathogens". Funded by BASF-AGRO HELLAS. (2005-2006).

  "Providing guidelines for the sustainable use of fertilizers in olive orchards according to soil and leaf analyses and crop information". Funded by EOP ELEOURGIKI. (2004).

  "Study of the effect of potassium on tomato growth, yield and distribution of mineral elements in the plant, under saline water irrigation conditions". Funded by the GSRT - Greek - Yugoslavian Cooperation for Research and Technology. (2002-2004).

“Safe and high quality food production using low quality waters and improved irrigation systems and management” (SAFIR) in the FP6-2004-FOOD-3-B of EU (contract FOOD-CT-2005-023168). (www.safir4eu.org)

“Innovative irrigation techniques for improved water use efficiency and fruit quality” in Be-lateral Cooperation for R&T between Greece-Tunisia (contract GSRT-135e).

“Biotechnological recycle of olive mills washing water by microalgae” (ALGATEC) in the FP7-SME-2008-1 της Ε.Ε. (Grant agreement: 232331). (www.algatec.net)

View of a greenhouse tomato fertilisation experiment		Leaves and fruits of kiwi showing symptoms of iron deficiency

 Publications

1.  LOUPASSAKI, M., PERICA, S., ANDROULAKIS, I., 1993. Seasonal changes in the olive fruit and the effects of Summer-applied nitrogen and potassium. Adv. Hort. Sci. 7: 65-68.

2.  LOUPASSAKI, M., VASILAKAKIS, M., ANDROULAKIS, I., 1995. The time of flowering of avocado and the female and male opening of flowers in Crete. Adv. Hort. Sci. 9: 37-42.

3.  ANDROULAKIS, I., LOUPASSAKI, M., SCHWABE, W., 1996. The content of mineral elements in the leaves of the olive cv. Koroneiki in relation to irrigation and the time of sampling. Acta Hort. 449: 119-124.

4. LOUPASSAKI, M., ANDROULAKIS, I., LIONAKIS, S., 1997. Effects of P and K fertilisers and the date of sampling on the concentration of macro and micro-elements in the leaves of four kiwi cultivars. Acta Hort. 444: 249-254.

5. LOUPASSAKI, M., VASILAKAKIS, M., ANDROULAKIS, I., 1997. Effect of pre-incubation humidity and temperature treatment on the in vitro germination of avocado pollen grains. Euphytica 94: 247-251.

6. LOUPASSAKI, M., LIONAKIS, S., ANDROULAKIS, I., 1997. Iron deficiency in kiwi and its correction by different methods. Acta Horticulturae 444: 267-271.

7. ANDROULAKIS, I., 1998. Growth and development of the Olive (Olea Europaea L.) in relation to Irrigation, Mineral Nutrition and Fruit Load. The Yearly vegetative Growth Cycle & the Alternate Bearing. Proceedings of the International Seminar on Olive Growing. - Chania 1998: 27 - 33.

8. LOUPASSAKI, M., 1998. The Nutrient Requirements of the Olive Tree. Methods and Timing of Fertiliser Application. Proceedings of the International Seminar on Olive Growing. - Chania 1998: 34 - 39.

9. PSARRAS, G., MERWIN, I.A. 2000. Water stress affects rhizosphere respiration rates and root morphology of young ‘Mutsu’ apple trees on M.9 and MM.111 rootstocks. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125(5): 588-595.

10. PSARRAS, G., MERWIN, I.A., LAKSO, A.N., RAY, J.A. 2000. Root growth phenology, root longevity, and rhizosphere respiration of field grown 'Mutsu' apple trees on 'Malling 9' rootstock. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125(5): 596-602.

11.  LOUPASSAKI, Μ., CHARTZOULAKIS, Κ., DIGALAKI, Ν. and ANDROULAKIS, Ι., 2002. Effects of salt stress on concentation of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium in leaves shoots and roots of six olive cultivars. Journal of Plant Nutrition, Vol. 25, No 11, pp. 2457-2482.

12. CHARTZOULAKIS, K., PSARRAS, G. 2005. Impacts of global change on crop photosynthesis and production in Mediterranean: the case of Crete. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 106: 147-157.

13. CHARTZOULAKIS K., PSARRAS G., VEMMOS S., LOUPASSAKI M., BERTAKI M., 2006. Response of two olive cultivars to salt stress and potassium supplement. J. Plant Nutr. 29(11): 2063-2078.

14. PSARRAS G., BERTAKI M, CHARTZOULAKIS K., 2008. Response of greenhouse tomato to salt stress and K+ supplement. Plant Biosystems 142 (1): 149-153.

 Personnel