Establishing citrus nutrition trials for young & mature trees in the Indian River Region to promote plant growth, mitigate HLB, decrease fruit drop, and improve postharvest fruit storage properties

Establishing citrus nutrition trials for young & mature trees in the Indian River Region to promote plant growth, mitigate HLB, decrease fruit drop, and improve postharvest fruit storage properties

Report Date: 10/21/2016
Project: 903   Year: 2016
Category: ACP Vector
Author: Brian Boman
Sponsor: Citrus Research and Development Foundation

This project was initiated in 2014 and is focused on understanding the effect of nutrients applied through foliar fertilization programs (FFP) on HLB-affected trees in the Indian River marketing district. Two research trials have been established in commercial mature grapefruit groves in St. Lucie County. Grove 1 has ~25 years old of �Flame� grapefruit on Swingle rootstock. Grove 2 utilizes ~7-year-old �Ruby Red� on Sour orange trees. Combinations of macro and micronutrient treatments initiated on all three trials in February 2014 and applications have been made quarterly since. Both research locations were maintained during this quarter, with foliar sprays continuing on schedule. Tree growth assessments of canopy volume, tree height, and leaf area index were made, along with assessments of insect counts. Presentations of research results were made to Florida State Horticultural Society and discussion of preliminary results was made to citrus growers and other scientists. The enhanced nutritional programs generally did not significantly influence tree growth parameters during this time period, as both leaf area index and canopy volume were generally unaffected by the foliar treatments. Although analysis indicated that there were differences in these parameters between years caused by pruning and topping, none of these differences were attributed to the enhanced nutritional programs. Leaf nutritional sampling and continuation of the spray programs will progress in late summer 2016 and extend to the final harvest in Winter 2016.


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