How to Prevent Fruit Cracking in Citrus? Growing Experience Shared
Citrus fruit cracking occurs every year, and it is most severe after the Mid-Autumn Festival, causing heavy losses for fruit growers. The main cause of citrus fruit cracking is unbalanced water supply. For example, severe cracking occurs after a long drought followed by heavy rain. The following measures can reduce the occurrence of fruit cracking:
1. Apply more organic fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, and less phosphorus fertilizer
From late July to early August, dig 30-40 cm deep holes on both sides of the canopy of bearing trees, and apply 30 kg of human and livestock manure, 0.2 kg of urea, and 0.2 kg of potassium chloride. 3-5 kg of plant ash can also be used instead of other potassium fertilizers.
During fruit expansion, spray foliar fertilizer with high potassium and calcium content on the canopy to increase the toughness of the peel. A 0.3% potassium sulfate or monopotassium phosphate solution can be sprayed on the leaves every morning or evening, once a week.
2. Promote orchard grass cover
In the second half of the year, keep the weeds in the orchard, but clear the weeds inside the tree basin. When the grass grows tall, cut it and cover the tree basin with it, using grass to maintain the humidity of the orchard, maintain soil moisture balance, create a good orchard microclimate, reduce fruit cracking in summer and autumn, and help prevent and control mite damage.
3. Do a good job in water management
During the summer drought, shallow plow 8-12 cm inside the tree basin and deep plow 15-25 cm between rows in the early stage of drought. If irrigation is needed to fight drought, first wet the canopy with a sprayer, and then irrigate. After rainfall, drain accumulated water in time to prevent soil moisture imbalance and avoid excessive water absorption by the fruit, which causes inner diameter expansion and fruit cracking.
4. Chemical prevention of cracking
When individual fruits crack on normal trees, spray gibberellin, cytokinin, brassin, etc. (refer to the pesticide instructions for usage and dosage) to keep peel cells active and reduce fruit cracking.