-8- 



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FERTILIZING APPLE TREES 

 AND INCREASING CALCIUM CONTENT OF FRUIT 



William J. Lord and W.J. Bramlage 

 Department of Plant and Soil Sciences 



NITROGEN (N) 



Many apple orchards are established in sod although we suggest eliminating the 

 sod by plowing and disking or if the soil is extremely stony, by herbicides. If the 

 site has been properly prepared and pH and nutritional problems have been corrected, 

 no fertilizer may be needed the year of planting. However, trees planted on hay 

 fields or pastures without extensive land preparation should receive N. Those planted 

 on land previously in forest generally should receive a fertilizer containing both major 

 and minor elements. 



Non-bearing trees. Lime but not fertilizer or manures can be put in the planting 

 hole with the roots. Fertilizer, a complete fertilizer, or one containing N, potassium 

 (K„0) and minor elements, should be applied after a rain has firmed the soil around 

 the roots of the newly planted tree. Fertilize at the rate If 1/3 - 1/2 pound of 

 ammonium nitrate (33% N) or its equivalent by spreading lightly in a wide circle around 

 the tree (8 to 12 inches from the tree trunk). 

 12 inches from the tree trunk). 



Table 1. Fertilizers, their nitrogen (N) content, and pounds that must be applied to 

 equal a certain amount of actual N. 



Fertilizer % N Approximate pounds that must be applied to be 



equivalent to the following pounds of actual N. 



0.3 lb .6 lb 1.0 lb 



2.2 



3.0 



6.3 



6.3 



20.0 



12.5 



10.0 



It is extremely important to obtain good growth on the trees in their non-bearing 

 years. However, water rather than N may be the limiting factor some years on some 

 sites. 



N is usually applied at high rates to stimulate growth of trees while non-bearing. 

 For example, at our Horticultural Research Center in Belchertown, MA, young, 

 non-bearing trees may receive 0.3 - 0.6 lb of actual N/tree whereas bearing trees 

 receive 0.0 - 0.3 lb of actual N/tree. 



After the year of planting, fertilizer, either nitrogen (N) alone, a complete 

 fertilizer, or a fertilizer containing N and potassium (K„0) and minor elements, should 

 be applied 3 to 4 weeks prior to bloom and at a rate of 1/3 pound of ammonium nitrate 

 or its equivalent for each year of age. 



