Citrus Guide: Get the most out of your citrus fertilizers
For citrus growers, achieving consistently high yields while maintaining tree productivity over years requires a precise and balanced nutrition plan. Proper nutrient management not only boosts fruit quality and quantity but also ensures the long-term health and resilience of your citrus orchard. Discover how optimal fertilization can support your success season after season.
Haifa’s Nutri Haitech™ offers comprehensive nutritional solutions for precision agriculture, designed to make your operations more sustainable and efficient, reduce waste and pollution, and of course, increase yields. Haifa, leveraging decades of expertise, empowers citrus growers with a comprehensive guide that explores crop nutrition. With this knowledge, you can maximize the effectiveness of your citrus fertilizer program, driving higher yields and a superior cost-to-benefit ratio.
Highlights for your Citrus crop nutrition
Citrus trees have shallow root systems, with an effective root zone that usually lies in the top 30-40 cm, depending on the soil type. To ensure the nutrient use efficiency, fertilizer application should be confined to this zone.
Salinity
Citrus growth and fruit production are impaired by soil salinity. In general, yield reduction occurs at electrical conductivities (EC) above 1.4 ds/m. When soil or water is saline, Application of potassium nitrate and calcium will suppress chloride and sodium uptake and reduce salinity stress.
Micronutrients
Micronutrients serve as critical co-factors for hormone synthesis, influencing their quantity and effectiveness. Boron and molybdenum stimulate auxin synthesis and transport, thus increasing gibberellin concentration and boosting fruit growth.
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Foliar nutrition
Foliar application of nutrients allows for tactical nutrient supply required at the different growth stages. Foliar application of urea triggers plant auxin syntheses, thus strongly affecting bud emergence and flower initiation.
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Nitrogen
The preferred form of nitrogen for root uptake is nitrate (NO3-), as it is easily absorbed by the plant.
Controlled release fertilizers
Single annual application of controlled release fertilizers in the first years after planting encourage tree establishment, regulates growth and speeds fruit bearing.
Enhance nutrient use efficiency with Multicote™ Agri
 | Vegetative: Vegetative growth starts with root growth. Nitrate nitrogen is easily absorbed by the roots, providing the N required at this stage. Foliar application of urea encourages auxin synthesis, resulting with better flowering. |
 | Flowering and fruit-set: At the flowering stage, which is critical to set the total yield potential, auxins initiate ethylene synthesis and induce flowering. To avoid flower dropping, it is recommended to apply auxin supportive co-factors such as Ca, B, Mo and Zn. |
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 | Fruit development: When fruit development takes place under hot weather conditions, high night temperature reduces auxine synthesis and sugar transport into the fruits. Potassium application supports sugar transport to the fruits, increasing fruit size and sugar content. Magnesium is critical for potassium (K) transport. Calcium and silicates may reduce skin disorders and fruit malformations. |
 | Harvest: Calcium application improves fruit quality and shelf life. Post-harvest NPK application develops nutrient reservoir for next seasons growth. |
Haifa's citrus fertilizer products
Note: the recommendations brough here should be considered as general guidelines. The actual program should consider the plant status and growth conditions. Consult Haifa agronomist to suit the optimal nutritional program for your crop.