Calcium carbonate may reduce root health and exacerbate HLB expression

Calcium carbonate may reduce root health and exacerbate HLB expression

Report Date: 07/29/2015
Project: 731   Year: 2015
Category: Horticultural & Management
Author: James Graham
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

Our survey of 8 ridge groves in Highlands County and 4 flatwoods groves in Hardee Co. with high bicarbonate stress continues. The survey is bimonthly to follow the recovery of these blocks and at harvest to compare 2015 season block yields 2.0 to 2.5 years after acid treatments began. Soil pH continues to range from 5.0-6.0 in the ridge and in the flatwoods groves has dropped after treatments resumed fall 2014. The grower reports that overall yields have improved 10% in flatwoods groves but were down 4% in ridge groves. The additional survey of 5 grove locations initiated January 2015 in the flatwoods with relatively low bicarbonate stress continues. The root zone pH of these groves is less than 6.5 and fibrous root density higher than in high stress flatwoods groves surveyed in 2014. Phytophthora populations are damaging in 3 of the 5 groves in the new survey. To lower the pH or to increase the calcium status, the grower is strongly considering Tiger Sulfur or gypsum amendments according to soil and leaf test.


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