A fertilization program for apples in Spain

Haifa's fertilizers meet the apple tree nutritional requirement

Soil type: light to medium, good drainage, pH 6.5 - 8.
Annual irrigation rate: ~6,000 m3/ha.
Plant Population: 400-600 trees/ha.
Expected yield: 45 t/ha.

Fertigation: Recommended rates of nutrients and fertilizers

Month	Crop requirements (kg/ha)				Recommended Fertilizers (kg/ha)
Month	N	P₂O₅	K₂O	MgO	Multi-K	MAP	AN	Magnisal
March	15	10	20	0	44	16	22	0
April	20	15	30	5	65	25	14	32
May	32	20	40	5	87	33	0	32
June	35	10	40	10	87	16	45	63
July	20	5	35	10	76	8	7	63
August	6	0	5	8	11	0	0	51
September	6	5	5	5	11	8	0	32
October	10	5	10	0	22	8	18	0
Total annual	140	70	185	45	403	114	106	273

Multi-K – Potassium nitrate (13-0-46)
MAP – mono-ammonium phosphate (0-61-0)
Amm. Nit – Ammonium Nitrate (34-0-0)
Magnisal – Magnesium nitrate (10.8-0-0-15.8)

A general guideline for splitting K application

Growth stage	Share of K₂O at stage (%)	Recommended rate (kg/ha of K₂O)
Leaf emergence	15	23
Flowering	20	30
Fruit-set	25	37
Fruit growth	25	37
Fruit maturation	15	23
Total	100	150

Foliar feeding

Fall is an excellent season to prepare the tree to next season requirements in N, K and Fe. As long as foliage is green and active it will readily absorb these nutrients applied by foliar sprays.

Macro elements removed by 1 ton marketable product

N	P	K	Ca	Mg	S
-------------------------------------- Kg/ton ------------------------------------------
0.6	0.7	1.3		0.9

Source: Kinoch: VOLHOUBARE LANDBOU, RSA. Processed by Frans Lourens,Haifa, RSA May, 1999.

Sufficient nutrient range of apples*

Element	Nutrient range (%)	Element	Nutrient range (ppm)
N	1.9-2.4	Mn	31-150
P	0.17-0.28	Fe	35-150
K	1.2-1.8	B	28-50
Ca	1.3-1.7	Cu	5-10
Mg	0.24-0.36	Mo	0.5-1.5
		Zn	20-50

* Leaf samples taken between July 15 and August 15 from Mid-shoot leaves on current season’s growth in accordance with instruction provided with the plant analysis.
Source: Fertilizing Fruit Crops – Ohio Cooperative Extension Service, The Ohio state University p. 11.

Apples – Mineral analysis values

	Mature leaves
Nutrient	Average value	Critical level
	(%)
N	2.30	1.70
S	0.19	0.08
P	0.30	0.18
K	2.00	1.20
Mg	0.40	0.25
Ca	2.00	1.30
Na	0.02
	(ppm)
Fe	90	15
Al	40
Mn	140	35
B	60	35
Cu	20	5
Zn	60	20
Mo	0.8	0.05

Plant analysis guide

Nutrient sufficiency ranges (source: A & L, Agronomy Handbook, Ankerman & Large Eds.)

Apples	N	S	P	K	Mg	Ca	Na	B	Zn	Mn	Fe	Cu
Apples	------------------------ % -------------------------							--------------- p.p.m ---------------
From	1.75	0.15	0.15	1.20	0.20	1.00	0.01	25	15	30	100	6
To	2.75	0.30	0.40	2.00	0.35	1.60	0.15	50	60	180	200	25