FRUIT I'ICTSS - March, 1933 



W. I-I. Thies 

 Extension Horticulturist 



New Aspe ct s of Orchard Pert lllzat lon 



It Is desirable to consider the fertilizer needs of the 

 tree as distinct froir. the fertilizer needs of the sod or cover 

 crop, according to J. !R. Magness In a recent issue of the Amer- 

 ican Fruit Grov;er. Rarely, if ever, does a tree shov; a clear cut 

 response to an application of phosphorus. Yet it is well known 

 that cover crops, Including;; sod, are rather heavy phosphorus tisers, 

 In the same way, the cover crop will respond more often than the 

 tree, to an application of potash. 



The maintenance of a good cover crop of sod is necessary, 

 (1) to prevent erosion and the loss of valuable surface soil, (2) 

 to maintain a supply of organic matter vjhich is the greatest reser- 

 voir of plant food in the soil, and (5) to Insure penetration of 

 water. On many soils neither a good sod nor other type of cover 

 crop can be maintained without fertilization. This Is particu- 

 larly true as the trees grov/ older. And if the grass is not as 

 dense and thrifty as it should be, the application of a complete 

 fertilizer will unquestionably improve the cover. Even 100 lbs. 

 per acre of such fertilizer broadcast over the area between the 

 tr'ees will Increase its growth. 



From the standpoint of the tree Itself, nitrogen may be 

 most economically applied over those areas of the root zone. where 

 there is relatively little competition from the cover crop. In 

 most Feature orchards there is a rather limited grov/th of sod un- 

 der the spread of the branches. At the same time the development 

 of roots is relatively dense beneath that area. It is therefore 

 safe to assume that the tree will obtain a larger proportion of 

 the nitrogen applied beneath the spread of the branches than If 

 applied over the entire orchard floor. And if a complete fer- 

 tilizer is used in feeding the tree, the amount should be calcu- 

 lated on the basis of the tree's need of nitrogen. Thus more 

 than 3 times as much of a 5-6-7 fertllir:er v;ill be needed per 

 tree to supply the needed nitrogen, as if nitrate of soda were 

 used. And as suggested above, there are definite advantages In 

 broadcasting the complete fortillzer over the entire orchard 

 floor Instead of placing it in a ring around the tree. 



Locatin g the Kew Orcha rd 



1fi~ni the disappearance of frost in the ground we find 

 a considerable number oi' fruit growers in Massachusetts digging 

 holes for the planting of ncv trees. In some cases wo fear that 

 too little attention has been given to the location of the now 



Issued by the Extension Service, V/lllard A. Munson, 

 director, in furtherance of Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. 

 Massachusetts State College, United States Department of Ag- 

 riculture, and County Extension Services cooperating. 



