What are the causes of and solutions for premature senescence in kiwifruit
In the process of growing kiwifruit, farmers often encounter the phenomenon of premature senescence in kiwifruit. Premature senescence severely shortens the fruiting life of kiwifruit and brings huge economic losses to farmers. So what causes premature senescence in kiwifruit? What should be done about it? Let's take a look together.
I. Causes of premature senescence in kiwifruit
1. Improper early fruiting
In fruit management, being eager to set fruit and urgently pursuing yield leads to severe overload of the tree body, depletion of nutrient reserves, and the appearance of alternate bearing. Although the tree body [survives], its resistance declines, leading to widespread disease. Therefore, being eager to set fruit and aggressively pursuing yield is the number one harmful factor causing premature senescence of the tree body and a short fruiting life.
2. Poor root system
Because of unreasonable fertilization and soil cultivation during the rainy season, soil degradation and clodding occur, root rot is stored in the root system, or planting is too deep, and root growth is inhibited. Or a large amount of chemical fertilizer is applied, especially a biased application of nitrogen fertilizer, without attention to formula fertilization and the application of organic fertilizer. All of these lead to poor root growth and development, poor root absorption capacity, tree decline, and a shortened fruiting life.
II. Solutions
1. Scientific fertilization
After fruit harvest and before leaf fall, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied. In June, more nitrogen fertilizer should be applied to promote shoot growth. From July to October, nitrogen fertilizer application should be controlled and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be increased to promote fruit growth. The autumn base fertilizer should be a full-element fertilizer, mainly organic fertilizer, combined with chemical fertilizer and microbial bacterial fertilizer, to ensure what kiwifruit needs for sprouting, flowering, and fruit setting the following year.
2. Deep plowing and hole expansion
While applying base fertilizer, deep plowing and hole expansion should be carried out promptly. At the same time, cut off the senescent roots at the tips to stimulate new root growth. After root pruning, apply more organic fertilizer, then water and cover with soil.
3. Irrigation and moisture preservation
Because the tree body is prematurely senescent and root absorption is poor, it is necessary to grasp the fertilization and watering work before the new shoots grow vigorously, and also to carry out foliar topdressing multiple times, such as spraying leaf fertilizer. This can promote the new roots to become vigorous and stimulate new root growth.
4. Scientifically retain flowers and fruits
⟦NL>For tree bodies with relatively severe aging, fewer flowers and fewer fruits should be retained, or simply no flowers and no fruits should be retained. On the scaffold branches, try to avoid causing wounds, especially large wounds, so as to avoid weakening tree vigor and harming healthy tree growth.5. Scientific pruning
Pruning should be carried out reasonably. When pruning vigorous trees, medium to slightly weak branches should be selected and retained; conversely, when pruning weak trees, medium to slightly vigorous branches should be selected and retained. For fruiting branches, timely renewal and rejuvenation should be carried out, retaining one fruiting branch, cultivating one reserve branch for the following year, and maintaining one vegetative branch.
The above is an introduction to the causes of and solutions for premature senescence in kiwifruit. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please keep following us.