Research is leading to new fertilizer recommendations for grapefruit, according to a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researcher.
A researcher with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences maintains that ongoing research will likely lead to updated fertilizer recommendations for grapefruit. According to a Citrus Industry article, the research is heading into its second year, and it’s meant to target the grapefruit industry, which has been especially hard-hit by citrus greening. Read details of the research below.
Update Fertilizer Recommendations for Grapefruit
Rhuanito “Johnny” Ferrarezi, a researcher with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) maintained in the article that the research is looking into many areas concerning fertilizers and grapefruit. “We are entering the second season (of the research project) and we hope to have information about better tree density; where to apply the nutrients, in the soil or through foliar nutrition; and we are also working with different rates,” he said.
Ferrarezi, who works at the Indian River Research and Education Center in Fort Pierce, shared that the research has already shown that “the increase in nutrient concentration has a direct relation with the amount of nutrients present in the leaves.” The article maintained that the research has also shown that an increase in zinc, boron and manganese leads to a response in leaf nutrition.
The goal of the research is to help grapefruit growers improve yield. Ferrarezi said he hoped the research would lead to helping growers “decide how to manage the trees in the field and perhaps extend their grove’s life in order to maximize their yields.”
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.