Post-harvest nutrient management

10 April 2016 | Dean Rainham, AgFirst | Australian Fruitgrower / Future Orchards® article

Post-harvest is a short but important nutrition window because trees are actively moving nutrients and carbohydrates from leaves back into buds and woody tissue before dormancy. Dean Rainham explains how growers can use this period to replenish reserves and support the following season’s flowering, fruit set and early growth.

The article recommends applying post-harvest nutrients as soon as practical after each variety is picked, while leaves and roots are still active. Nitrogen, boron, zinc and magnesium are highlighted as the nutrients most likely to be addressed at this time, but the starting point should always be measurement through soil, leaf and fruit testing.

For nitrogen, the article notes the importance of autumn supply to floral buds and suggests foliar urea applications can be an effective way to increase bud nitrogen. Boron supports pollen-tube formation and fruit set, zinc is important for leaf and shoot development, and magnesium supports chlorophyll and photosynthesis. The central message is to use the post-harvest period deliberately rather than allowing the nutritional program to stop at harvest.