Detailed Explanation of Key Management Techniques for Pomegranate During the Fruit Enlargement Stage
1. Intertillage and weeding. In summer, weeds in the orchard grow severely and compete with the fruit trees for water and nutrients. Intertillage can not only remove weeds (chemical weeding may be used when necessary), but also loosen the soil and prevent soil moisture evaporation. However, during this period the root activity of the fruit trees is vigorous. To prevent root damage, intertillage should be shallow, with a depth of 5-8 cm being appropriate.
2. Topdressing during the young fruit enlargement stage. This period is the peak nutrient demand period for the fruit trees. Topdressing can promote fruit growth, improve quality, increase single fruit weight, promote flower bud differentiation, enhance photosynthetic accumulation, and help the tree body resist cold and bear fruit the following year. For mature fruit trees with a yield of about 50 kg, apply 2.5-3 kg of compound fertilizer or special fertilizer for fruit trees per tree, plus 1 kg of urea. For fruit trees bearing about 25 kg, halve the amount of fertilizer. For those bearing more than 50 kg and those bearing fruit for the first time, reasonable topdressing can be carried out according to the situation. During this period, a mixed solution of potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 0.3% urea should also be used for foliar fertilizer supplementation 2-3 times, to supplement tree nutrition and fruit coloring in the later stage.
3. Watering in case of drought. During this period the temperature is high, evaporation is large, and the fruit volume increases rapidly, while flower bud differentiation also begins. In order to reduce competition for water between fruit and flower bud differentiation, watering can be done according to soil moisture conditions during drought, thereby achieving the purpose of rapid absorption of fertilizer and water by the tree body and young fruit.
4. Tree pruning. Pruning during this period mainly improves ventilation and light penetration in the tree, regulates the transport and distribution of nutrients, regulates the contradiction between growth and fruiting, inhibits excessive growth, and shifts it toward flower bud differentiation. The main pruning techniques are bud removal, pinching, branch bending, and branch thinning.
5. Pest and disease control. The main insect pest is the peach fruit borer. It directly bores into the fruit and causes rotten fruit. Next is the tortoise wax scale, etc. Diseases include dry rot and brown spot, etc. To control the peach fruit borer, use 25% chlorbenzuron No. 3 suspension concentrate at 1500-2000 times dilution, or use 20% fenpropathrin at 1000-1500 times dilution for spray control. Generally, control is carried out 3-4 times. When there are many rainy days, the number of control treatments should be increased. To control adult tortoise wax scales, use 40% methidathion at 650-1000 times dilution; to control nymph scales, use 40% methidathion at 1000-1500 times dilution for spray control, or use 25% buprofezin at 1000-1200 times dilution for spray control. In severe cases, use 800-1000 times dilution for spray control, and the effects are all good. To control dry rot, brown spot, etc., use 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 800-1000 times dilution or 1:1:200 Bordeaux mixture, applying once every 15 days, with good results.