Citrus Nutrition was front and center at the Citrus Nutrition Day at the Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in Lake Alfred, FL. Improving citrus nutrition is one of the main ways that Florida’s citrus growers are utilizing to combat citrus greening, also known as HLB.

The idea is to improve the health of the citrus trees as much as possible. This allows the citrus trees to fight the citrus greening bacteria better than if their nutrition was less than optimum. At the Citrus Nutrition Day, University of Florida horticulturist Arnold Schumann introduced new ways Florida’s citrus growers can improve their management of their groves’ citrus nutrition.

Citrus Nutrition Systems

Researchers and scientists are working on every avenue that can possibly help Florida’s citrus growers to combat citrus greening. Improving citrus nutrition is one area where citrus growers can concentrate their efforts to try to improve their trees’ output and lifespans in the face of citrus greening.

Arnold Schumann introduced two different options: the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) and hydroponics. See a summary of his presentation below.

  • Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS). “It’s a different approach to using the results coming out of leaf analysis from laboratories,” Schumann said in a CitrusIndustry.net interview. It looks at how the amount of macro- and micronutrients are calculated in the lab, and how those levels can change due to citrus greening. DRIS “basically purifies your diagnosis,” for nutrient levels, according to Schumann. This allows for more accurate fertilization and nutrient management.
  • In the article, Schumann explained the benefits and results of hydroponics in citrus nutrition management. “Hydroponics does give you the flexibility to independently adjust all nutrients, even on a daily basis,” he says. He also shared the good yields he’s been getting in his hydroponics research.

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.