Read about recommendations from UF/IFAS research on using irrigation to improve citrus tree productivity.
“Because most citrus trees in Florida are planted in soils with low nutrient- and water-holding capacity, growers need to pay close attention to the supply of both water and nutrients,” advised a Citrus Industry article authored by UF/IFAS researchers. The article maintained that Florida citrus growers wanting to boost citrus productivity should use nutrient management and irrigation; in our first blog in the series, we looked at nutrient management; now see the recommendations on using irrigation from the article below.
Irrigation Recommendations
The article shared that “Water quality is another important parameter to consider, especially when using fertigation.” They shared these areas to pay attention to with an eye for improving citrus productivity.
Water pH. ”Some groves have wells that are high in bicarbonates, which can result in elevated soil pH. Test the water pH regularly to make sure it is between 5.8 and 6.5. This will keep most nutrients available in the root zone. If the water pH is greater than 7, regularly acidify the water with dilute sulfuric acid, elemental sulfur or another acidifying source until the pH is in the desirable range.”
Soil pH. “Soil pH needs to stay around 5.8 to 6.5 because this is where most trees impacted by citrus greening tend to acquire the most water and nutrients. Very low pH will make most nutrients unavailable (e.g., calcium and phosphorus) or toxic (e.g., copper, manganese, zinc, etc.) and may result in root injury. Very high pH can result in precipitation of some nutrients, especially phosphorus and calcium.”
Soil Amendments. “Florida sandy soils contain less than 3% soil organic matter and very low silt and clay fractions (<5%). Additions of compost or other carbon-containing compounds, such as biochar, can help improve water- and nutrient-holding capacity. These soil amendments tend to contain organic carbon, which can stimulate more biological activities in the soil, resulting in better nutrient transformations and cycling to the benefit of long-term grove productivity.”
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.