See the results of UF/IFAS research on the effects of cover crops and young citrus in Florida citrus groves.
A UF/IFAS blog article shared that “Florida citrus growers continue to battle declining yields, citrus greening disease, and increasingly nutrient-poor soils. As a result, they are taking a closer look at soil-building practices such as cover crops.” The UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES) undertook a study to explore how and when cover crops benefits citrus. The blog shared the research results; see the details below.
Cover Crops and Young Citrus Research
The research was done on “two commercial citrus orchards differing in age and management history, but both impacted by citrus greening,” according to the article; the groves were “a younger orchard (approximately 10-years old) with no prior cover crop use” and “an older orchard (approximately 30-years old) with previous cover crop use.”
Research takeaways on cover crops and young citrus included:
- “Major shifts in soil nutrient levels did not occur within the first two years. This was more evident in the older orchard where soil conditions were stable.”
- “In the younger orchard, mixtures containing legumes improved some of these biochemical indicators [soil organic matter (SOM), permanganate-oxidizable carbon (POXC), soil protein, and mineralizable carbon (Cmin)] compared to non-legume mixtures.”
- “Young systems responded more quickly…Older orchards—especially on sandy soils—might need more time and biomass inputs before major changes appear.”
- “Cover crops made the biggest difference in the younger orchard. By Year 2 and 3, the benefits” included “Higher fruit yield; Higher Brix (sweetness); Improved Brix:acid ratio—key for marketable juice.”
- “Three soil health indicators—soil protein, Cmin, and POXC—were strong predictors of fruit yield and juice quality…traditional soil fertility measurements (N, P, K) the team took from the alleys were not reliable predictors.”
Final takeaways included that “For producers, introducing cover crops in young orchards as soon as possible could offer the biggest benefits,” and “Cover cropping isn’t an immediate fix…but it’s a long-term investment in orchard health and resilience.”
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.