Future Orchards Trial Report 2014
Project title: / Fertiliser budgeting in apple orchards.Region: / Orange, NSW
Contact person: / FLA: Stephen Tancred. Trial orchardist: Ross Pearce
Project Objective: / Fertiliser budgeting is a way of comparing nutrients applied and nutrients removed to see if the supplied amounts are adequate. When combined with soil analysis it can point to deficits or surpluses that may affect yields of fruit quality
This trial aimed to;
1. Compare crop removal and fertiliser applied to a high yielding Pink Lady orchard
2. Provide guidance regarding fertilising practices, based on soil tests, yield and crop removal.
Method: / Fruit was collected from one orchard (block 7) over two harvest seasons (2013, 2014) and just for 2014 in block 1. Soil tests were taken in winter 2013 from the 2 blocks. Actual yields were recorded by the grower. Fertiliser programs were recommended in conjunction with the local EE Muirs agronomist. Soil tests were taken.
What did we learn?
1. Comparing nutrient application and removal is a useful tool.
2. The trial orchard has been under fertilised with nitrogen and potassium for the past two years, which will be depleting soil reserves. This will eventually affect yield and quality if fertilising rates are not increased.
Crop nutrient removal per hectare
Year of Harvest / 2013 / 2014Actual Yield (t/ha) / 82 / 65 / 65
Analysis / Unit / Pink Lady
Block 7 / Pink Lady
Block 7 / Pink Lady
Block 1
Potassium / Kg / 144 / 75 / 83
Nitrogen / Kg / 66 / 93 / 77
Phosphorus / Kg / 8 / 6 / 5
Calcium / Kg / 6.2 / 4.8 / 3.3
Magnesium / Kg / 5.3 / 3.9 / 3.9
Sulphur / Kg / 3.6 / 3.8 / 2.2
Boron / g / 486 / 298 / 259
Copper / g / 39 / 10 / 9
Zinc / g / 59 / 72 / 46
Iron / g / 504 / 422 / 453
Manganese / g / 59 / 62 / 55
Sodium / g / 649 / 154 / 176
Aluminium / g / 314 / 226 / 120
Molybdenum / g / 28 / 1 / 2
Potassium is the most important macro-nutrient for fruit. Low potassium leads to small, pale and sour fruit. Because it is used in wood and leaves it should be supplied at luxury levels. The orchard has been in potassium deficit of on too skinny a surplus for the past two seasons.
Potassium / Pink LadyBlock 7 / Pink Lady
Block 1
Kg/Ha Applied 2012-13 / 41
Kg/Ha Removed 2013 / 144
“Excess” supplied / -103
Soil status winter 2013 / Low-medium / Low-medium
Kg/Ha Applied 2013-14 / 83 / 90
Kg/Ha Removed 2014 / 75 / 83
“Excess” supplied / 8 / 7
Nitrogen is the most important macro-nutrient for shoots/leaves. Low nitrogen can limit growth and is often done deliberately to control vigour. Because nitrogen is easily leached thru soil with rain and irrigation an excess in the budget doesn’t always lead to an excess in the tree. If soil reserves are depleted too far tree health is affected and flowers don’t set or fruitlets don’t hold.
Nitrogen / Pink LadyBlock 7 / Pink Lady
Block 1
Kg/Ha Applied 2012-13 / 30
Kg/Ha Removed 2013 / 66
“Excess” supplied / -36
Soil status winter 2013 / Very Low / Very Low
Kg/Ha Applied 2013-14 / 50 / 56
Kg/Ha Removed 2014 / 93 / 77
“Excess” supplied / -43 / -21
Phosphorus is well supplied and there are medium soil reserves. It is being supplied with a mixed fertiliser and if the mixed fertiliser was not used in future (in preference to less expensive straights) then the lack of applied phosphorus will not be missed for a few seasons.
Phosphorus / Pink LadyBlock 7 / Pink Lady
Block 1
Kg/Ha Applied 2012-13 / 17
Kg/Ha Removed 2013 / 8
“Excess” supplied / 9
Soil status winter 2013 / Medium / Low-medium
Kg/Ha Applied 2013-14 / 13 / 16
Kg/Ha Removed 2014 / 6 / 5
“Excess” supplied / 7 / 11
Calcium is very important for fruit quality. Ample is being supplied via the ground fertilisers and as foliar sprays.
Calcium / Pink LadyBlock 7 / Pink Lady
Block 1
Kg/Ha Applied 2012-13 / 32
Kg/Ha Removed 2013 / 6.2
“Excess” supplied / 26
Soil status winter 2013 / High / High
Kg/Ha Applied 2013-14 / 33 / 36
Kg/Ha Removed 2014 / 4.8 / 3.3
“Excess” supplied / 28 / 33
Magnesium is important for tree health. An excess is being supplied.
Magnesium / Pink LadyBlock 7 / Pink Lady
Block 1
Kg/Ha Applied 2012-13 / 3.0
Kg/Ha Removed 2013 / 5.3
“Excess” supplied / -2
Soil status winter 2013 / High / High
Kg/Ha Applied 2013-14 / 5.4 / 6
Kg/Ha Removed 2014 / 3.9 / 3.9
“Excess” supplied / 1.5 / 2.1
Suphur is being well supplied. As soil reserves are low this should be maintained.
Sulphur / Pink LadyBlock 7 / Pink Lady
Block 1
Kg/Ha Applied 2012-13 / 21.0
Kg/Ha Removed 2013 / 3.6
“Excess” supplied / 17
Soil status winter 2013 / Low / Low
Kg/Ha Applied 2013-14 / 32 / 36
Kg/Ha Removed 2014 / 3.8 / 2.2
“Excess” supplied / 28 / 34
Boron is being well supplied, but as it is the most easily leached of the trace elements, and is inexpensive and is important in calcium nutrition and the soil reserves are low it could be supplied at greater amounts to have a safety margin.
Boron / Pink LadyBlock 7 / Pink Lady
Block 1
Kg/Ha Applied 2012-13 / 1458
Kg/Ha Removed 2013 / 486
“Excess” supplied / 972
Soil status winter 2013 / Low / Medium
Kg/Ha Applied 2013-14 / 450 / 550
Kg/Ha Removed 2014 / 298 / 259
“Excess” supplied / 152 / 291
Implications.
There is always a fear of over fertilising trees and getting excess shoot growth and soft fruit that will develop storage disorders. But if high yields are aimed for then the fertiliser has to be increased or the soil will be “mined” of its reserves. Increasing fertiliser has a cost and orchardists are often conservative with some they have control over inputs (fertiliser and pesticides) but are locked into some other expensive costs (labour, marketing).
How will this impact on the business?
The orchardist increased his application rate from 2013 to 2014 and plans to increase it further for the 2015 crop. The orchardist is to install a fertigation system so fertiliser can be more efficiently used and applied at strategic times during the growing cycle.
What will we change?
Fertiliser inputs are being increased on this farm. The application methods are being improved (fertigation). The yields were lower in 2014 compared to 2103 due to a range of environmental issues. If yields had been as high as the previous year then the nutrient stresses may have been more evident and some deficiency symptoms may have been visible in leaves or fruit.
What are the road blocks/obstacles to change?
Costs and mindset have sowed the use of fertiliser in some districts, particularly orange where rich deep soils have traditionally provided good reserves. As reserves are depleted costs will have to be increased or yields and fruit quality will suffer.
Summary.
Nutrient budgeting was used as a tool to compare nutrients removed by the crop, the nutrients applied with fertiliser, and the affects on soil reserves. Fruit analysis and soil tests and actual yields were used as inputs. Some nutrients should/could be applied in greater quantities to avoid nutrient stress developing. These include potassium, nitrogen and boron. The orchardist has increased fertiliser rates and plans to increase them more in 2014-15. Fertigation is to be used in future to better target the placement of fertilisers (close to the roots) and the timing.