Fertilizers

FERTILIZERS

Function of elements
Symptoms of lack of elements
Elements in soil
Strategy:
Soil
Fertigation
Foliar
Water management

FERTILIZERS

It is about balance between elements
More of 1 element does NOT

FERTILIZERS

FERTILIZERS

Keep in mind:
Roots are for uptake of elements and water
Leaves are

FERTILIZERS

FERTILIZERS

N = NITROGEN

In quantity needed, the most important of all
For metabolism

N = NITROGEN

Uptake: ? by roots, little by leaves
Uptake of:
NO3 =

N = NITROGEN

If there is a lack:
Small leaves ? not green,

N = NITROGEN

Too much N:
Big leaves ? dark green
Strong vegetative growth
Big

P = PHOSPHATE

From all elements not so transportable
Important for:
Development of root

P = PHOSPHATE

Uptake difficult
Should be enough P2O5 around rootsystem
Lack:
Smalller fruits
Less and

K = POTASSIUM

Important for water uptake
And transport of other elements
Very mobile
Good

K = POTASSIUM

Lack:
Abnormal evaporation
Small fruits
More N in leaves

K = POTASSIUM

K is concurrent for:
Magnesium (Mg)
Calcium (Ca)
Borium (B)
And also Natrium

MG = MAGNESIUM

Magnesium is part of chlorofyll.
15% of all Mg is

MG = MAGNESIUM

Lack:
Especially on soil with lower pH
After dry period
Low temperatures

CA = CALCIUM

Calcium:
Important for:
Firmness of branches
Firmness of fruits
Bitterpit

CA = CALCIUM

Calcium:
Bitterpit:
Too much vegetative growth
Ca transported to new leaves, not

B = BORIUM

Borium important for:
Formation of flower buds
Quality of flower buds

MN = MANGANE

Important for:
Fotosynthesis ? growth
Firmness of fruits
In plant not easy

ZN = ZINC

Important for:
Growth
Winterhardness
Lack:
Small leaves

FE = IRON

Important for:
Basic colour of fruits ? better storage
Assimiliation ?

STRATEGY

What do we need?
We give per hectare
Better is per kilogram or

STRATEGY

What is taken out of 1 hectare per year?
For apple; production

ON THE SOIL

On light, sandy soils:
Shortly for flowering
On other soils:
35-50 kg

ON THE SOIL

Potassium:
Not necessary before flowering
During the season
Phosphate:
On good soil: not

FOLIAR

Just additional
Never the basic
Especcially the elements which are difficult to transport

FOLIAR

WATER AND FERTIGATION

Without water: not possible with M9
Not necessary the whole

WATER AND FERTIGATION

Often used:
Tensiometers: amount of water in kPa
Also tensiometers that

WATER AND FERTIGATION

What does it means for tree?

WATER AND FERTIGATION

Recommended during growing season:
Depending on:
Climate: dry or rain
Production

WATER AND FERTIGATION

Fertigation = additional, especially older trees
N during spring important:

WATER AND FERTIGATION

From 3rd year; on production trees
Fertigationscheme, often used: (in

WATER AND FERTIGATION

Example for standard fertilizers
In 1.000 liters:

WATER AND FERTIGATION

Calcium: always separate from other elements
Only with N possible
EC

WATER

Maximum values for elements in watersource:

WATER

pH in water:
Range at drip point: between 5 and 7
Low pH: better uptake

WATER

pH in water:
If too high: use acid to decrease
Like: fosfor acid, nitrate-acid
If

WATER

EC = Electric Conductivity
Measure of content of salt in water
In many

WATER

EC formula:
Gram N/tree/day X EC Fertilizer X 100
%N fertilizer X liters/tree/day
=

ANALYSIS

Soil:
Before planting
Each 3 years
Leaves:
Begin of June: possible to adapt, but