In the cultivation of seed and stone-fruit trees there are several elements that are very important in achieving the final results of the harvest. These elements are calcium and potassium.

Both elements have a positive influence on the quality, growth and ripening of both stone and seed fruit, features highly valued in this type of cultivation.

Fruit growing is very demanding and technical. The farmer not only seeks excellence in production but also, given the target market for these fruits, the quality standard. For this reason, in the process of ripening and growing the fruit, special attention must also be given to quality. Speaking of quality, we refer to both the organoleptic and visual properties and, of course, to improve the post-harvest life of the fruit, trying to achieve the longest possible life.

Following this, we are going to develop how calcium and potassium have an influence on identifying the way to improve the production and quality data of fruit tree farms.

CALCIUM

Calcium is very important as a quality factor since it provides hardness, conservation, and greater weight in the fruit, among other things. In addition, calcium provides better curdling, less stress on the plant, more consistent fruit thanks to increased cell division and more cells to protect the plant from pathogens, especially fungi. In this way, we reduce the risk of monilia significantly.

To ensure the presence of calcium, we must stimulate the root system, regulate vigor, perform good fertilization and controlled irrigation. Excess nitrogen (N), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) interfere with calcium absorption as these elements are antagonistic to calcium. All this will help us to have much more calcium in our plants.

POTASSIUM

Another distinctive element to achieve the goals we are looking for is potassium. For a good absorption of potassium in the fruit trees it is recommended to make a precise and effective fertilization in line with the need of that crop.

Potassium will provide us with health and quality of the fruit, it will remove hydric stress and makes the fruit cells more permeable allowing more water in the fruit.

We also want to emphasize that the application of calcium at the beginning of cultivation is essential for that fruit to have more cell division and provide much more hardness in the harvest. Having more cells allows us to have more water retention capacity.

This supply of calcium will be done at the beginning of the crop, as potassium and calcium are antagonistic, and it is at the end when we supply more potassium.

As nutritionists we rely more on root applications as long as we are at the optimum time of assimilation of the product, the foliar applications are done more at the end by shock impact on the fruit.

Once the most valued characteristics of the fruit trees have been determined, we will carry out a fertilization strategy to cover all the phenological stages of the crop.

Our recommendation to carry out the fertilization is the following:

AT THE START OF CULTIVATION

TARAVERT KING KONG®. It has a high humic content and acid pH in order to unblock and structure that soil to attract potassium efficiently.

Dosage: 5l/ha.

CALCIUM FERTILIZATION

– POST-HARVEST AND START

TARASOIL® CALCIUM. To correct salinity, it is a calcium deficiency corrector via soil. It prevents cracking of the fruit. It is applied until the stone is hard.

Dosage: 30 kg/ha.

– APPLICATIONS WITH ALREADY DEVELOPED FRUIT

TARAFOL® CALCIUM. It is a foliar calcium deficiency corrector. It prevents fruit cracking.

Dosage: 2.5 l/1000. 2-3 treatments.

Thanks to the application of these products we will achieve:

Root activation, better assimilation of nutrients, biostimulation, nutritional transport and transmission and correction of soil salinity.

POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION

– PRE-HARVEST

KRYSTAFEED® DARWIN 11-5-43

It is a fertilizer with algae extract and chelated microelements provided in the final stages of cultivation. This product is applied by fertirrigation.

Dosage: 1Kg/Tm expected production in two applications, 45 and 30 days before harvest. In seed 45 days before.

TARAFOL® GOLD

It is a fertilizer with chelating agents making it very effective due to a carbonate-based potassium which is very quickly absorbed and highly assimilated by the plant so that it reaches the fruit.

Regardless of the fertilization carried out in the crop, this product is applied to improve the quality and size of the fruit and indirectly provides some hardness and above all more consistent fruit.

It is a reinforcement, not to remove fertilizer units from a program, but to give an extra input at the end and thus improve the quality of the fruit.

Dosage: 1Kg/tm expected. Either 30 days before harvest or split that dosage in 30 and 20 days. In seed 30 days before in one application.

TARAFOL® KANE

It is a fertilizer containing foliar application potassium with a neutral pH that facilitates the absorption and, therefore, it is more easily assimilated by the plant. It will make fruits with better uniformity and size as well as some color.

Dosage: 3l/1000 in two or three applications between 20 and 30 days before harvest. The same for seed fruit trees.

From Tarazona, we offer a wide variety of fertilizers that cover all the nutritional needs of the crop and comply with the principle of Fertilosophy®: efficient and sustainable fertilization.