In our country's agroclimatic conditions July is an important period in forming the fruit yield of the current year and the fruit buds of next year's yield. At this time plant mineral nutrition and its balance by individual elements are extremely important.
The availability of mineral nutrients depends to a large extent on the properties of the soil itself and on its moisture.
The reaction of the soil solution is of great importance for the mineral nutrition of pome fruit crops. For apples and pears slightly acidic or neutral soils (pH 5.8–7.0) are optimal. Trees growing on acidic soils (pH below 5.5) often show a significant slowing of growth caused by poor uptake of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, magnesium, nitrogen and boron. Aluminum and manganese are more available in such soils and can sometimes even be toxic to plants and lower yield. On alkaline soils (pH above 7.5) phosphorus, nitrogen, iron, copper, zinc and boron are also often unavailable. Considering that orchards are most often planted on just such soils, plant condition must be monitored and, where necessary, foliar feedings with critically important elements carried out.
In conditions of acute deficiency or limited availability of individual elements from the soil, foliar feedings are a quick and effective way of supplying plants, flowers or fruits with the needed nutrients and are a serious factor influencing yield formation and fruit quality.
Feeding is advisable from the time pome fruits reach «walnut» size until the start of ripening. At this time it is important to supply plants with elements responsible for forming the quality indicators of the crop. For this we recommend the tank mix ECOLINE Calcium-Boron (Chelates) 2.0–2.5 l/ha + ECOLINE Phosphite (K–Zn) 1.5 l/ha. If needed, feeding with ECOLINE Calcium-Boron (Chelates) at 2.0 l/ha is desirable to repeat after 12–15 days.
If leaf diagnostics is carried out and a need for other mineral nutrients is established, we can select suitable compositions from the ECOORGANIC fertilizer range. For orchards with drip irrigation systems we offer feeding with liquid NPK complexes from the new FITOSTART line.
