Daily irrigation and macro- and micronutrients for helping citrus trees combat citrus greening were the focus of a Citrus Nutrition Day presentation.
The last Citrus Nutrition Day in Bartow saw a presentation given by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) soil scientist Davie Kadyampakeni, according to a Citrus Industry article. The presentation made recommendations about daily irrigation and nutrients with the aim of maintaining citrus tree health in the face of citrus greening, also called HLB. See the recommendations below.
Recommendations for Daily Irrigation and Nutrients for Citrus
Past research has shown that mature citrus trees infected with citrus greening utilize less water, but Kadyampakeni maintained in the presentation that daily irrigation was still best for the trees. This daily irrigation gives the majority of the trees’ roots access to water at all times. Kadyampakeni shared that “about 70 percent of the roots are in the top 12 inches of soil,” so daily watering should keep that first foot of soil damp at all times.
Kadyampakeni also touched on points concerning nutrients added to the soil. Most of Florida’s soils are sandy and hold little in the way of nutrients, just like with water. According to Kadyampakeni, amending the soil of citrus groves by adding both macronutrients and micronutrients is a proven option for improving citrus trees infected with citrus greening. Griffin Fertilizer offers a wide array of products featuring both the macronutrients and the micronutrients citrus trees need. Explore our products here.
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.