Fruit Tree Fertilization & Essential Elements

• Fertilization involves providing fruit trees with necessary mineral elements for their development
• Soil microorganisms facilitate biochemical transformations of mineral elements absorbed by roots
• Elements are transported through xylem tissues as raw sap to leaves for photosynthesis
• Synthesized products from the minerals nourish the tree's organs as elaborated sap
• Fertilization includes organic matter and mineral fertilizers

Essential Elements for Trees

• Essential elements for trees are divided into two groups: major and minor elements

Major Elements (E.majeurs)

• Azote (N) is a major element
• Phosphore (P) is a major element
• Potassium (K) is a major element
• Calcium (Ca) is a major element
• Magnésium (Mg) is a major element
• Soufre (S) is a major element

Minor Elements (E.mineurs)

• Bore (B) is a minor element
• Chlore (Cl) is a minor element
• Cuivre (Cu) is a minor element
• Fer (Fe) is a minor element
• Manganèse (Mn) is a minor element
• Molybdène (Mo) is a minor element
• Zinc (Zn) is a minor element

Roles and Effects of Elements

• Azote (N) helps with protein synthesis
• A deficit of Azote (N) causes reduced biological activity in the soil and poor vegetation
• An excess of Azote (N) can lead to imbalance, nitrate accumulation, acidification, microbial drift, and increased plant vulnerability
• Phosphore (P) is essential for photosynthesis, carbohydrate breakdown, flowering, fruit set, and seed maturation
• A deficit of Phosphore (P) causes an affect on vigor, delayed flowering, difficulty in fruit set, and disrupted cycles of calcium, sulfur, and iron
• An excess of Phosphore (P) causes mycorrhizal deficiency and disease development
• Potasse (K) regulates water in the plant
• Potasse (K) gives resistance to frost, drought, and diseases
• A deficit of Potasse (K) causes reduced vigor, irregular maturation, and diminished sugar and protein synthesis
• An excess of Potasse (K) antagonizes K/Ca and K/Mg

More on Elements

• Calcium (Ca) excess causes blockage due to active limestone immobilization
• Calcium (Ca) deficit causes fragile cell walls and reduced vigor
• Magnésium (Mg) excess blocks calcium
• Magnesium (Mg) deficit causes slowed growth and chlorosis on older leaves
• Soufre (S) deficit causes impaired photosynthesis and protein synthesis
• Azote (N) facilitates vegetative growth
• Phosphore (P) promotes flower formation, fruiting, and root development

Elements

• Potassium facilitates the transfer of minerals and organic substances throughout the tree enhancing fruit quality
• Calcium is involved in respiration
• Magnesium is a component of chlorophyll
• Oligo-elements are essential and their deficiency can lead to serious issues

Catalytic Roles of Oligo-elements

• Fer (Iron) is used in enzymes, respiration, and photosynthesis
• Manganèse is used in photosynthesis and enzymes
• Zinc is used in enzymes, glucides and proteins, and auxins
• Cuivre (Copper) is used in enzymes, photosynthesis and proteins, lignine synthesis, and flowering
• Bore is used in hydrates de carbones (carbohydrates), parois cellulaires (cell walls), cell elongation and flowering
• Molybdène (Molybdenum) is used in nutrition azote (nitrogen nutrition)

Nutritional Deficiencies

• Boron (B) deficiency causes necrosis of meristems
• Nitrogen (N) deficiency causes chlorosis
• Magnesium (Mg) deficiency causes interveinal chlorosis in older leaves
• Potassium (K) deficiency causes terminal necrosis
• Phosphorus (P) deficiency causes red discoloration
• Sulphur (S) deficiency causes chlorosis
• Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) deficincies interveinal chlorosis

Stages of Fertilization

• Fertilization involves three phases
• Fertilization during installation, during preparation for production entry, and during full production

Types of Organic Fertilizers

• Organic fertilizers include fumier (manure)
• The mineralization of organic matter releases assimilable fertilizer elements for roots
• The amount of released fertilizer varies based on the organic matter's nature
• Lisier (Liquid manure) is liquid animal waste
• Compost is decomposed vegetable and animal waste

Organic Manure Composition

• The composition of organic manure varies by type
• Cheval (horse) manure: 6.7% Azote (Nitrogen), 2.3% Phosphore (Phosphorus), 7.2% Potassium
• Bovins (cattle) manure: 3.4% Azote (Nitrogen), 1.3% Phosphore (Phosphorus), 0.5% Potassium
• Ovins (sheep) manure: 8.2% Azote (Nitrogen), 2.1% Phosphore (Phosphorus), 8.4% Potassium
• Poule (chicken) manure: 10.0% Azote (Nitrogen), 8.0% Phosphore (Phosphorus), 4.0% Potassium
• Mixte (mixed) manure: 3.9% Azote (Nitrogen), 1.8% Phosphore (Phosphorus), 4.5% Potassium

Mineral Cover Fertilization

• Mineral cover fertilization involves applying fertilizer during cultivation to support plant growth
• Azote facilitates vegetative growth and framework, requiring a schedule of 2/3 before flowering, 1/3 at fruit set, or 1/2 before, 1/4 during, and 1/4 at fruit maturity.
• P and K must be available during maximum root activity with water to dissolve fertilizers

Mineral Fertilizer Types

• Mineral fertilizers types are
• Azote (Nitrogen) fertilizers
• Phosphatés (Phosphate) fertilizers
• Potassiques (Potassium) fertilizers
• Composés (Compound) fertilizers
• Oligo-élément et spéciaux (Trace element and specialty) fertilizers

Nitrogen Fertilizers

• Sulfate d'ammonium ((NH4)2SO4) contains 21% Nitrogen, made from ammonia and sulfuric acid
• Urée (CO(NH2)2) contains 46% Nitrogen, made via reaction between CO2 and NH3
• Ammonitrate (NH4NO3) contains 33.5% Nitrogen and includes ammonium and nitrates

Potassium Fertilizers

• Chlorure de Potassium (KCI) contains 60% Potassium, not recommended for sensitive crops like citrus and avocados
• Sulfate de Potassium (SOP) contains 48-50% Potassium, for fertigation and foliar spray
• Nitrate de Potassium (NOP) contains 13-00-46, for fertigation and foliar spray

Phosphate Fertilizers

• Super Phosphate Normal I contains 18% P2O5 and contains limestone (gypsum)
• Super Triple Phosphate is granulated and is not suited for fertigation with 45% P2O5
• Phosphate Di-Ammonique (DAP) contains 18-46-00 and is for use as a base fertilizer
• Phosphate Mono-Ammonique contains 12-62-00 and is suited for fertigation
• Acide Phosphorique contains 00-54-00 and is suited for fertigation

Steps for Planning Fertilization

• Determine the needs of the plants
• Calculate the application rates
• Select the application method: cover, split or total, localized or foliar
• Determine the application timing
• Plan for the application equipment

Fertilization Rationale

• To start fertilization consider the exportation if fruit, leaves and pruned wood
• Get results of soil analysis
• Check the results from foliar analysis
• Results of water analysis should be used
• Consider historical data regarding planting date, variety, density, yields, pruning intensity, irrigation method, weed management, and overall plot condition

Planning for Fertilization

• Rosacées à Noyaux (Stone Fruit) - Pecher (Peach)
• Vignoble (Vineyard) - Cuve (Tank)
• Vignoble (Vineyard) - Table
• Agrumes (Citrus)
• Rosacées à Pepins (Pome Fruit) - Pommier (Apple)
• Olivier (Olive) - irrigué(irrigated)
• Olivier (Olive) - sec (dry)

Palissage

• Palissage involves training plants on a structure with ties
• Palissage improves fruit quality and yield
• The technique is notably used in viticulture and arboriculture
• It reduces congestion by making trees more compact
• Palissage prevents tree stress, improving growth
• Sunlight exposure is improved for faster maturation, limiting stagnant humidity and Phytophthora risks

Parts of a Palissage

• Piquet de tête is the head stake
• Piquet de rang is the row stake
• Fils releveurs are the support wires
• Fils porteurs are the carrying wires
• Fils d'amarres are the mooring wires
• Amarres ar ties

Eclaircissage (Thinning)

• Eclaircissage is a horticultural technique of removing some developing fruits to regulate production
• It avoids biennial bearing, increases the size, improves the quality, and preserves tree health
• Thinnning is done in the spring
• Apples and pears can be thinned Au Ciseau (with scissors)
• Peaches, apricots, plums are thinned by E. a la main (hand)
• Citrus thinning is done Au Ciseau (with scissors)
• Table grapes thinning includes "vendanges vertes(green harvesting)" and is also done A la main (by hand)
• Manual, mechanical and chemical techniques can be used for thinning

Timing of Thinning

• Manuel(Manual)
• Mecanique(Mechanical)
• Chimique(Chemical)

Manual Thinning

• Manual thinning should account for natural drop of excess young fruits, known as physiological drop, with two passes recommended
• The first pass is between 40-45 days after blossoming and the second is between Late may-mid june

First Thinning Pass

• To limit biennial bearing a partial elimiation of the fruits takes place
• For apples and pears the recommendation is 2 fruits/bouquet
• For peaches or apricots/branch 5-6 peaches/4-10 apricots

Second Thinning Pass

• The goal is to select fruits before floral induction
• For pome fruits the recommendation is 1 fruit/bouquet
• For peaches or apricots/branch 3-4 peaches/6-8 apricots per branch

Chemical Thinning

• Chemical thinning is the action to eliminate the flowers when the fruits reach 5-20mm using chemical products
• chemical is completed during flowering

Chemical Thinning Examples

• N.A.D (Naphtalène acétamide): 20-50ppm causes petal drop.
• Α.Ν.Α (Acide Naphtalène Acétique): 15-20ppm should be used 20 days after full bloom
• Carbaryl (Sevin): 1260-1500ppm should be used 15-25 days after full bloom

Effeuillage et ensachage (Leaf Removal and Bagging)

• Bagging is to protect the fruit by a technique used to protect fruit during maturation using bags. the bags (paper, polyethylene, cellulose) protect the physique logical and light harvesting so that light harvesting allows the crop to mature and provide a healthy aesthetic
• Effeuillage is to remove the leaves to encourage penetration of light encourages the penetration of light, aeration and is related to the fruit development

Traitement phytosanitaire

Protection and Maladies

• Plantations requires phytosanitaire treatments for production
• The phytosanitaire applications help the plant resist diseases and parasites that could affect rendement (yield)

Bases de lutte phytosanitaire

• A global approach is most effective in the frame of action concerning
  • crops (agronomy) and knowledge parasites
  • Study of agro -sensibility crop
• Phytogeniques biological
• Laws to prevent crop damages

Lutte chimique strategies

"Aveugle ""

• Large range of products should be used after Consultations
• The phase intégrée to help protect the