considering predicted crop load, levels of other 

 essential elements, and the history of that 

 particular tree or block of trees. Once you have 

 become familiar with your trees or orchard 

 blocks, it becomes easier to use the above 

 guidelines in determining the rates of nutrients 

 that are required by your trees. Other factors 

 that should be considered as well are soil type, 

 amount of water in the soil, or predicted rainfall 

 around the time you plan to apply nutrients. 



Nutrient-management Plan 



As described earlier in this series of articles, 

 peaches respond best to soil-applied nutrients, 

 and these should be applied as soon as possible 

 in the spring. For our growing conditions, this 

 usually means late April or even early May. 

 Once the frost has left the ground, we usually 

 have excessive soil moisture for some time 

 making it difficult to apply fertilizers with 

 ground equipment. Also, it takes a few weeks 

 for soil temperatures to warm enough for plant 

 roots to start functioning. Ideally, the 

 nutrients that are needed should be applied so 

 that when the roots are ready to start working, 



the nutrients are readily available. Under our 

 growing conditions this time still is usually late 

 April to mid-May. 



An additional factor to consider in 

 developing a nutrient management program is 

 whether or not the crop you are fertilizing 

 responds only to a specific form of any or all 

 nutrient elements. For example, some plants 

 respond to N only when it is in the ammonium 

 form, while others prefer nitrate N. Other 

 plants are highly susceptible to chlorine and 

 will not tolerate K in the chloride form. With 

 peaches, there is no evidence to show that 

 either form of N is preferable. However, stone 

 fruits are sensitive to chlorine. Therefore, 

 muriate of potash (KCl) generally is not 

 recommended for peaches. (There is some 

 evidence, though, that muriate of potash can be 

 applied safely if the application is made in the 

 fall rather than in the spring.) 



Often it is possible to supply more than one 

 nutrient with only one nutrient source. It is in 

 many instances the cheapest, easiest method of 

 applying both these nutrients. For other 

 elements, the reverse may be true, i.e. it is 

 easier and may be less expensive to apply 10- 



12 



Fruit Notes, Volume 61 (Number 4), Fall, 1996 



