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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