Key Points for Early Spring Management in Orchards and Pest and Disease Control Methods

As spring temperatures rise, fruit trees begin a new annual growth period, which is what we call the early spring season. Managing fruit trees during this period is crucial, as it affects the yield and quality of the subsequent fruit. So what are the key points for early spring management in orchards? How do you prevent pests and diseases?

I. What are the key points for early spring management in orchards?

1. Spray chemicals at the right time

Generally speaking, the overwintering period is when pests and diseases are relatively active. Spraying fruit trees with an eradication agent at this time is very important, as it can effectively reduce the phenomenon of pests emerging from the soil in spring and damaging the young trees. Commonly used chemicals include phoxim, thiophanate-methyl, cypermethrin, mancozeb, and others.

2. Apply bud-promoting fertilizer well before the fruit trees sprout

If we want the fruit trees to sprout new buds very uniformly and grow steadily, we should apply a certain amount of bud-promoting fertilizer in early spring when the root system is already active. If sufficient base fertilizer has already been applied, the amount applied can be reduced or simply not applied, because the growth needs of the fruit trees have already been met.

3. Turn the soil

Why turn the soil, and why only turn over the surface layer of soil? Because this can destroy the storage places of pests and diseases (in winter, when temperatures are relatively low, large numbers of underground pests such as cutworms and scarab beetles hide in the soil), and it can also improve the soil's moisture retention. So by promptly turning and loosening the soil in early spring, we can effectively reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases. At the same time, when turning the soil, fallen leaves, weeds, and so on from the fruit trees can also be buried in the soil.

II. How do you prevent pests and diseases in orchards in early spring?

1. Agricultural control methods

This method reduces or controls the occurrence of pests and diseases through certain natural means. Common ones include rationally arranging the planting density of fruit trees, changing the soil environment, and selecting varieties with relatively strong disease resistance or using crop rotation and intercropping. Based on traditional methods, we can create a production environment that pests and diseases dislike, such as destroying their living space and concealed places, so that we can directly prevent the occurrence of pests or directly eliminate them.

2. Physical and mechanical control methods

Common physical and mechanical control methods include catching and killing with equipment, bagging for isolation, trapping and killing with attractants, and the application of radioactive energy. These mainly use relatively advanced tools and mechanical equipment to achieve the purpose of pest and disease control.

3. Biological control

Biological control mainly involves protecting the natural enemies of fruit tree pests and diseases or releasing natural enemies through artificial means. This method is used quite often in preventing the occurrence of pests and diseases because its effect is relatively obvious.

In summary, early spring management in orchards is very important and is also a key factor in whether fruit trees achieve a high yield. During this period, we must also do a good job of pest and disease control.