Nutrition basics

November 2022 | Presented by Jorika Cronje, Soil Scientist and Horticulture Consultant, South Africa | Future Orchards®

This presentation provides a practical foundation in orchard nutrition, focusing on how soil conditions, nutrient availability and plant demand interact to influence apple and pear performance. Jorika Cronje frames nutrition as a balancing exercise: supplying enough of each essential element while avoiding the excesses and antagonisms that can reduce uptake or compromise fruit quality.

The slides cover the importance of soil and leaf testing, interpreting nutrient status in context and recognising that orchard nutrition changes through the season. Rather than treating individual test values in isolation, growers are encouraged to look at trends, ratios and the relationship between soil supply, root uptake, tree vigour, crop load and fruit development.

For orchard managers, the presentation is a useful refresher on building a disciplined nutrient program around measurement and timing. The aim is not simply to apply fertiliser, but to use evidence to support balanced tree growth, reliable yield and consistent fruit quality.