Management of foliar fertilization
Year: 1999
Type: article
Abstract: "Our approach to management of foliarfertilization is twofold. We identify the role thatessential nutrients play in the physiology of treecrops. Then we apply the nutrient as a foliar fertilizerat key stages in the phenology of the tree to stimulatea specific physiological process. This approach hasproved successful in the following studies. A singlewinter prebloom (January or February) foliarapplication of nitrogen as low-biuret urea (0.16 kg Ntree-1) to 30-year-old `Washington´ navel orange(Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) trees at flower initiationsignificantly increased yield per tree for each of threeconsecutive years (P≤0.05). January or Februaryfoliar urea applications increased net cumulative yield20.6 and 16.4 t ha-1 3 years-1, respectively. Full-bloomfoliar-applied of urea (0.16 kg N tree-1) increased netcumulative yield by 7 t ha-1 2 years-1. In both studiesthe number of commercially valuable large-size fruitsignificantly increased as yield increased.Applications of nitrogen (low-biuret urea) orphosphorus (potassium phosphite) at the time ofmaximum peel thickness of navel orange fruitsignificantly increased the number of commerciallyvaluable large-size fruit (diameters 6.9 to 8.8 cm pertree (P≤0.05). Foilar-applied boron (sodiumtetraborate) to `Hass´ avocado (Persea americanaMill) trees at the cauliflower stage of inflorescencedevelopment (elongation of inflorescence secondaryaxes; pollen and ovule formation in the flowers)increased the number of pollen tubes reaching theovule, ovule viability and net cumulative yield 12.2 tha-1 3 years-1 (P≤0.05)."
Author: Carol J. Lovatt
Institution: University of California, Riverside
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W1806596789