What are the causes of fruit cracking in winter jujube and what are the control measures?
During the process of growing jujube trees, farmers often encounter the phenomenon of fruit cracking in winter jujube, which seriously affects the quality and yield of winter jujube and also brings serious economic losses to farmers. So what are the causes of fruit cracking in winter jujube? How should it be controlled? Let's find out together.
I. Causes of fruit cracking in winter jujube
1. Water imbalance
If the soil is too dry in the early growth stage, and then there is continuous rainy weather or heavy rain from the color-turning stage to the ripening stage, the root system will be supplied with sufficient water in a short time, causing the flesh to expand rapidly while the skin growth rate cannot keep up, thus causing fruit cracking.
2. Nutrient imbalance
Some farmers apply large amounts of urea or ammonium nitrogen fertilizer during cultivation, making early vegetative growth too vigorous, causing an imbalance in the tree's nutrient status and leading to fruit cracking. In addition, neglecting the application of trace elements causes poor nutrition in the tree due to physiological nutrient deficiency, which can also cause fruit cracking.
3. Sunscald
Jujube trees have a small leaf area, so fruit on the sunny side is very easily exposed to direct sunlight. After the skin is exposed to strong sunlight, small sunscald scars form on the surface, causing the toughness of the epidermis at the sunscald scars to decrease. After rain, it cracks open and then spreads to other parts.
4. Improper fertilization
Most fruit farmers apply fertilizer by broadcasting it on the ground or applying it shallowly at close range, while the early-maturing root system is mainly concentrated in a root layer about 20 cm in the soil layer, which is precisely a root layer where soil moisture changes quickly and drastically. With watering and rain, the root system absorbs a large amount, causing drastic changes in the water in the intercellular spaces of the fruit and resulting in fruit cracking.
II. Control measures
1. Increase the application of organic fertilizer and microbial fertilizer, improve the soil, increase soil fertility, ensure sufficient water supply, and reduce the phenomenon of fruit cracking.
2. Prune reasonably and improve air permeability, which helps the surface of jujube fruit dry quickly after rainfall and reduces fruit cracking.
3. During the rainy season, pay attention to timely drainage, and during drought, irrigate in time. It is recommended to help the surface of jujube fruit dry quickly after rainfall and reduce fruit cracking. During the fruit expansion period, maintain soil moisture to prevent the soil from being too dry or too wet.
4. Strengthen fertilization. It is best to dig ring-shaped trenches outside the outer edge of the canopy projection for fertilization. The fertilization site is better where the fibrous roots of the root system are concentrated, and the trench depth should be 30-40 cm. This helps the plant's root system grow downward. When fertilizer and water change drastically, the root system's buffering capacity is also strengthened. It will not affect the normal growth of the fruit tree because of this. Cover with soil after fertilization.
The above is an introduction to the causes of fruit cracking in winter jujube and the control measures. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.