What are the key management points for loquat before harvest?

Last winter had little rain, and the growth and development of loquat fruit were relatively poor, so doing a good job of pre-harvest management is very important. For this reason, the current key points of loquat cultivation technology are briefly described as follows:

1. Fertilization

① Apply N and K chemical fertilizers or decomposed organic fertilizer in combination with irrigation or after rain by opening radial trenches or interrupted ring trenches.

② Foliar topdressing: Before bagging, spray the leaf surface every 10?15 days with a solution of 0.3% urea plus 0.3% monopotassium phosphate plus 0.2% calcium chloride, or spray foliar fertilizers such as “Gaole” and “Handilong” to promptly supplement the nutrients needed for young fruit development.

2. Timely fruit thinning

Loquat is a fruit tree with a very high fruit-setting rate. Even after flower clusters have been thinned, the problem of excessive fruiting still exists. Fruit thinning clearly enlarges the fruit, makes fruit size uniform, ripening period consistent, improves fruit quality, and facilitates harvesting. Fruit thinning should be done earlier, as it can reduce nutrient consumption. It is generally carried out when the quality of fruit development can be distinguished. First break off some excessive fruit clusters, then thin fruit grains cluster by cluster, removing diseased and insect-damaged fruit, small fruit, deformed fruit, and overly dense fruit, and try to retain fruit grains of similar size, leaving 3?4 grains per cluster.

3. Fruit bagging

Bagging can reduce damage to fruit from pests, diseases, and mechanical injury, clearly improve the smoothness of the fruit surface, and improve the external quality of the fruit. The earlier the bagging time, the better the fruit coloration and the fewer the rust spots on the fruit surface. Generally, bagging about 30?35 days after flower drop is appropriate. Before bagging, spray once to control pests and diseases, generally mixing fungicides and insecticides. The size and thickness of the paper bags should be chosen appropriately. Generally, 60?80g/m2 waterproof kraft paper is selected. The flower clusters of Zaozhong No. 6 are small, so the paper bag specification can be smaller; the flower clusters of Jiefangzhong are large, so the paper bag specification should be larger. It is advocated to use disposable special loquat fruit bags, which are not only hygienic, safe, and economical, but also have the functions of sterilization, insect repellency, and fruit protection.

When bagging, proceed in the order of upper part first, then lower part, inner canopy first, then outer periphery. When bagging, first open the paper bag and make the bag fully puffed up, with the fruit suspended in the middle of the paper bag. Bag 2?3 leaves inside the paper bag. Note that the fruit must not touch the paper bag. The bag opening should face downward or outward, and then tie it tightly with wire, straw, or the like.

4. Whitewashing tree trunks

If the tree trunks have not been whitewashed in winter, they should be whitewashed in time. First scrape off diseased bark on the branches and trunk, plug the holes caused by longhorn beetles, and then whitewash the trunk. The whitewash agent is prepared with 2 kg quicklime plus 1 kg lime sulfur mixture or sulfur, 0.3 kg salt, a small amount of vegetable oil, and 10 kg water.