Growing Better Citrus Fruit
Improve Fruit Quality
Albedo, cracking and other physiological disorders of citrus are caused by poor cell division when the fruit is developing. If cells do not develop properly when the fruit is young, physiological problems appear when the fruit increases in size. As the fruit grows the cells ‘stretch’ and the problems become visible.Foliar calcium sprays can help as they increase cell wall thickness allowing the fruit to reach a larger size before the problem becomes visible. However the best approach is to combine calcium application with a growth stimulant to increase cell division. InCa contains both these and can be used for this purpose. It will reduce albedo and cracking to improve quality and appearance on all types of citrus.
Improve Nutrient Uptake
Citrus trees are very susceptible to the effects of transient nutrient deficiency. This deficiency occurs when root systems can’t meet the nutrient demands of the crop for short periods. It is the leaves on the fruiting branches of a citrus tree that supply the developing fruit. Research shows that these leaves are more likely to be low in nutrients than the leaves of non-fruiting branches. It is therefore vitally important to use a high quality foliar feed while the crop is fruiting if maximum yield and quality is to be achieved.Better Use of Nitrogen
Citrus trees produce several flushes of leaf growth each season. When flushes occur, the demand for nitrogen is unusually high. Research shows that soil application of nitrogen is not an effective way of supplying nitrogen during leaf flushes – the roots simply can’t keep up with demand during these periods. This affects both quality and yield of fruit.PiNT Calcium is an efficient way to supply nitrogen during each leaf flush. This will reduce the total nitrogen input and improve yield. Furthermore the unique controlled uptake nitrogen actively improves disease resistance, and the high calcium content improves quality and shelf life.
Hold more flowers and fruit
When fruit is developing the quality is adversely affected if conditions lead to rapid shoot growth. This rapid shoot development acts as a sink for food, and ‘robs’ the fruit of food leading to uneven sizing, and fruit abortion. Speedo Saxon encourages the sugars made in the leaves to move to the fruit, and boosts root growth which discourages shoot proliferation. In citrus crops this is particularly effective as the leaf flushes that citrus trees produce make the potential for problems more acute. This approach gives larger, more evenly sized fruit and can reduce fruit drop.Improving growth during hot and cold temperatures
During cool or hot temperatures the crops ability to synthesise growth hormones declines disproportionately to give a slow-down in development, and often a quality reduction. Normal balance can be restored by application of InCa to give improved growth and quality during temperature extremes.Extend Shelf Life
Shelf life of fruit is controlled by ethylene, which encourages the breakdown of compounds that bind together the cells in the fruit, and weakens cell walls. When fruit is picked with green peel and treated with ethylene post harvest to improve colour, diseases such as anthracnose and stem end rot increase. This is due to the ethylene treatment weakening cell walls in the fruit.It is during the growing season that the crops capacity for post harvest quality is determined. By loading the fruits cells with calcium using various combinations of InCa, Speedo Balance, or PiNT Calcium the cells in the fruit become less susceptible to ethylene induced cell wall degradation following harvest – thus increasing shelf-life and improving other quality aspects. This treatment will reduce post harvest diseases such as Stem end rot and anthracnose.
Healthy Roots – Reverse Decline
If plants are growing on salty or high sodium soils, or trees are subject to soil-bourn disease such as Phytophera then it is likely that the crop is experiencing root decline. Certain rootstocks are more susceptible to this, and if the crop is on a calcareous soil decline is even more likely. The root system can be reinvigorated using PiNT Calcium that will improve root growth and health, and suppress sodium uptake. This will then stop root rot i.e. Phytophera.Rates and Recommendations for Citrus:
PiNT CalciumSoil application – Up to 300l/Ha/season split into applications of 10-30L. Suitable for drip irrigation.
Foliar application – 5-10L/Ha or 1% spray solution (spray to run off). Avoid spraying in direct sunlight.
Timing: For General use - 30 day intervals from flowering, until harvest. For foliar use apply following each leaf flush.
Root disorders - soil apply 25-50L as early in the season as possible. PiNT Calcium can be applied during dormant period.
PiNT Potassium
Soil application – Up to 100l/Ha/season split into applications of 25-50L.
Foliar application – 5-10L/Ha or 1% spray solution (spray to run off).
Timing: 30 day intervals from small fruit until 1 month prior to harvest.
Speedo Balance
Application Rate – 2 L/Ha.
Timing: Apply when plants are growing aggressively. Repeat after 14 days if necessary.
Speedo Saxon
Application Rate – Foliar – 2-3L/Ha in minimum 100 litres of water. Alternatively use a 0.5% spray solution and spray until run-off. Avoid spraying in direct sun.
Timing: Apply at flowering and repeat after 1 month to hold and bulk more fruit.
InCa
Application Rate – 1L/Ha either as a foliar spray (minimum 100L water spray volume) or through drip irrigation or fertigation systems.
Timing: For temperature stress - apply at 20 day intervals during periods of extreme high and or low temperatures or foliar spray when fruit is 1-5mm to reduce physiological disorders.
