Fertilizer and nutrient management in temperate and subtropical fruits

DEEPA T2015-12-006

Nutrient management for optimum yield Successful fruit production requires an adequate

supply of essential nutrients to treesNutritional requirement varies with soil

characteristics, rainfall and age of the plant

Soil in relation to manuringTrees which are growing in pure sand showing P

deficiency and produce definite symptomsTrees under field condition do not show P deficiencyIn most of the countries, soil lacks with P is the most

limiting factor for fruit production

Drainage in relation to manuringIn badly drained soil, waterlogged conditions during

winter cause root rotShortage of healthy roots – incomplete nutrition of

treeIn too well drained soil, moisture will be less during

dry monthsIncomplete nutrition due to lack of moisture

Classes of fruits in relation to manuring Different classes of fruits require different proportions

of two very important elements-N and PDessert apple, red currants and gooseberries –mainly

require potassiumN – necessary at certain periods unless K is available plants can never use N

Cooking apple, pear, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries – require high amount of K

Never respond to higher application of NPlums, damsons, peaches, nectarines, apricots,

cherries, black currants, cobnuts and filbertsRequire plentiful supplies of N to keep up a regular

supply of annual shoot growth and give size and quality to the fruit

Also require regular application of K in moderate quantities

Varieties in relation to manuringAmong cooking apples, Grenadier require high

amount of K but Bramley’s Seedling require both K and N in high amounts

Among dessert apples Worcester Pearmain gives best coloured fruits by receiving very low amounts N in proportion to K

Cox’s Orange Pippin in full bearing responds to moderately high amounts of N in proportion to K

Pruning in relation to manuringAmount of fertilizer depends on degree of severity of

pruningVery severe pruning – promote new shoot growth-

heavy dressing of N fertilizersLittle or no pruning – new growth less – balanced

application

Rootstocks in relation to manuringTrees on vigorous root stocks have a natural urge and

makes strong growth than dwarfing or semi dwarfing root stocks

One or two root stocks of apple produce trees which suffer severely from K or N deficiency unless get very well management

Disease control in relation to manuringManuring has a direct influence on the incidence of

diseaseN and K are not given in equal quantities for all classes

and varieties, but in right proportion under all conditions

Temperate fruits and nutsFruits and nuts

Fertilizer requirement

N(g) P(g) K(g)

Apple 700 350 700Pear 700 350 700Plums 500 250 700Peach 500 250 700Cherries 2,000(CAN) 1,600 1,000strawberry 40 Kg/ha 40 kg/ha 80 kg/haKiwi 850 - 900 500 - 600 800 – 900Apricot 500 250 200Walnut 250 60 250

Subtropical fruitsFruits Fertilizer requirement(kg)

N(g) P(g) K(g)

Litchi 3.5 2.25 0.60

Loquat 750 300 750

Rambutan 250 250 250

Passion fruit 100 50 100

Egg fruit 200 45 165

Fig 300 200 200

Grapes 200 - 750 105 -120 100 -1200

Bael 50 25 50

Pomegranate 600 - 700 200 - 250 200 - 250

First year, early summer – apply a N fertilizer(Ammonium sulphate/Urea) or compost

Application at least one foot from the trunk and directly under drip emitters

Second year, apply approximately two times the 1st year rate

Increase rate in subsequent years proportionally with the size of trees

Flowering and bearing years – reduce rate

Fertilization of Mature Bearing Fruit and Nut Trees

Nitrogen profound effect on the vigor of fruit and nut treesIt is one of the ways to manage shoot growth and

influence fruit set and bearing. Low N : less vigor and shorter shoot growth eg:

apple, pear By limiting nitrogen, fruit set is often enhanced, tree

shoot growth is less, which leads to better light penetration, and less need for pruning.

It may also help to limit the size of overgrown trees.

N deficiency symptoms in peach and nectarines – general yellowing on leaves along with reddish margin

Very low N trees have stunted growth, poor fruit set and smaller size compared to high N trees

Blanket N fertilizer recommended for all tree types, Rate = 0.5 to 1 kg/tree/yearTwo split application, for mature trees – during the

spring bloom and fall harvest seasonsFor young trees, monthly application during the summer

growing season as well as during the spring and fall

PhosphorousPlays vital role in as a structural component of cell

constituent and metabolically active compoundsPotassiumHelps in utilization of N and increased protein formationIncrease size of kernel, seeds, fruits and tubers, juice

content, oil content and Vit.C of temperate fruit treesHelps in maintaining uniformity and acceleration of

ripening of fruitsResistance to bruising and physical damage during shipping

and storage

Apple N:P:K = 70:35:70g/year , up to 10 yearsDose should be stabilized after 10 years –

700:350:700g/plant/yearSupplemented with FYM – 10kg/year age of the treeTree prefer N,P and K in the form of Calcium

Ammonium Nitrate, Superphosphate and Murate Of Potash

Dose reduced to 500g, 250g and 400g during ‘off’ yearIn bearing trees FYM along with P and K should be

applied during Dec – JanFertilizers should be broadcasted in the tree basin

30cm away from the tree trunk to the canopyDeep mixing injures root system

Pear

In hills recommended dose for 10 year old plants FYM – 60 to 100 kg N:P:K = 700:350:700g/tree/yearFYM, P and K applied before snowfall in Dec.Half of N is added 3 weeks before flowering and the

rest of half just after fruit setZn and Fe deficiency in young foliage controlled by

spraying 0.4 – 0.5% Zinc sulphate and Ferrous sulphate during April

Peach

State Age of tree

FYMKg/tree

Ng/tree

Pg/tree

Kg/tree

HP 6 40 500 250 700UP 10 - 300 500 300TN - 20 200 1,000 1,000AP 7 50 350 210 210

• Whole quantity FYM, full P and K applied as basal dose• Half N in spring before flowering and remaining half a month later• Irrigation is important• Thorough mixing needed after the application• Ferrous Sulphate 0.5- 1.0% ,foliar spray

Grapes

General recommendation in different states vary from, 25 – 300 kg FYM 200 – 750 g N 105 – 720 g P 100 – 1200 g KRecommendation by AICFIP for Anab-E-Shahi spacing : 4.5 x 3 m² (750 vines/ha) For vines of 3 – 5 years -500:125:750 kg/ha year ˃5 yrs – 500:500:1000 kg/ha/yearApplied in two splits – April & Oct. –at 30 cm away from the

base to depth of 30-40 cm

ApricotRemoves a large quantity of nutrients from the soil,

requiring replenishment with both organic manures and chemical fertilizers

For mature trees(˃7 yr) a mixture of 40 kg FYM, 500g N, 250g P and 200g K

FYM along with full P & K during Dec. – Jan.N , two splits – 1st half 2-3 weeks before floweringRemaining half a month laterAvoid application in too wet or too dry soilHigh rainfall with steep slope area – band application of N

fertilizer should be preferred

Strawberry 50 kg FYM, 40 kg P & K at the time of bed preparation80 kg N applied in 2 splits, Half in sep. or after the establishment of plants in

Sep – Oct Half before bloomingFoliar spraying of N(0.5%), P(0.2%) and K(0.5%), 4

times between Aug and Feb

Avocado Tree age FYM(Kg) N(g) P(g) K(g)1-3 25 40 20 354-6 35 75 35 607- 10 40 150 35 125Over 10 50 200 45 165

• Before application , the basin should be weeded• Broadcasted away from 30 cm radius of the trunk• Irrigate well after application• N and Ca influence yield, fruit size and quality

Ber Ber orchards are seldom manuredProductivity can be improved by manuring every yearA dose of 750g N/ tree gives highest yield N and P ,250g each increases fruit yield K application does not give any responseIn sodic soils(pH-over 8.5) application of gypsom per

pit is needed

Fig Age of plant(year)

Organic manure(kg) Inorganic manure (g)FYM Oil cake N P K

1-2 15 0.5 75 50 503-5 25 1.0-1.5 150 100 100Above 5 40 2.0 300 200 200• Young plants – fertilizer application with the onset of monsoon and just after pruning• Annual requirement – 2 applications, after pruning and 2 months later• N- rapid growth of foliage, syconia development, fruit colour and maturation• K – yield and quality

Kiwi Removes large quantity of nutrients from soil, because

more yield and removal of winter and summer pruning 20 kg FYM and 0.5kg NPK mixture as basal dose,

annuallyAfter five years, N: P: K =850-900: 500-600: 800-900 g/vine/yearRequire high Cl, deficiency affects root and shoot

growthN-two equal doses, half in Jan – Feb and remaining in

April- May after fruit set

Litchi Grown mostly in natural fertile soilAcute shortage of N, P, and K stunt all forms of growthFertilizer schedule in N. India

Age of plant(year)

Fertilizer / plant/ year(kg)

FYM Calcium Ammonium Nitrate

Superphosphate

Muriate Of Potash

1-3 10-20 0.3-1.0 0.2-0.6 0.05-0.154-6 25-40 1.0-2.0 0,75-1.25 0.20-0.30

7-10 40-50 2.0-3.0 1.50-2.0 0.30-0.50

>10 60 3.50 2.25 0.60

Loquat It is a voracious feederNeeds heavy fertilization for luxuriant growth and

bumper yieldN: P: K = 750: 300: 750 kg/ year

Persimmon Does not require high fertilizer doseRelatively high amount of K and low amount of P is

requiredHigh supply of K needed during fruit developmentExcess K leads to rough skinned low quality fruitsUp to 3-4 year, complete fertilizer(11: 4:

14)applicationFor controlling Mg deficiency, foliar spray of 2-3%

Magnesium Sulphate

Walnut For 10 year old trees, N: P: K = 250: 60: 250g/tree/ yearFull dose of P and K and half of N applied two weeks

before expected bloomRemaining half applied in two equal splits, three

weeks after fruit set and during early JulyFor correcting Zn deficiency, 0.4% Zinc Sulphate

applied as foliar spray

Reference Sharma G., O.C Sharma and B.S Thakur . Systematics

of Fruit Crops .2009. New India Publishing Agency, New Delhi.

Handbook of Horticulture. 2001. ICARMuthukumar P. and Selvakumar. R. 2013. Glaustas

Horticulture. New Vishal Publications, New Delhi.Banday, F.A and Sharma, M.K.2010.Advances in

temperate Fruit Production. Kalyani Publishers,New Delhi.

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