How to manage loquat after harvest? A detailed explanation of the latest key points
Every year, May-June is the mature and market season for loquat, and some early-maturing varieties can be marketed as early as March-April. Management after loquat harvest must keep up so that the tree can maintain high yield the following year and avoid the phenomenon of alternate bearing. So how should loquat be managed after harvest? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.
1. Summer pruning
Summer pruning is carried out after harvest, and this is also the most important pruning for loquat, and it is better to do it early rather than late. The summer shoot is the most important shoot of the loquat plant. For fruiting trees, early sprouting means early flower bud differentiation. Summer pruning generally involves thinning out crowded branches, weak branches, overlapping branches, crossing branches, and water sprouts in the canopy. This increases the tree's air and light penetration and lays the foundation for flower bud differentiation. At the same time, the fruiting branches are cut back to prevent the shoots from moving outward and the base from becoming bare.
2. Thorough orchard cleaning
After pruning, the weeds in the orchard should be cleared away completely to prevent them from competing with the trees for water and nutrients and affecting tree growth. The pulled weeds and the pruned fallen branches and leaves should be gathered and burned, and the remaining plant ash can serve as potash fertilizer needed for tree growth. The weeds and branches and leaves can also be buried deep as green manure, which can also provide nutrients for the trees.
3. Ditching and drainage
Summer is a period of high temperature and abundant rain, especially in the south during the plum rain season, when torrential rain is very likely to occur. At this time, ditching and drainage measures should be done well to avoid root rot from waterlogging. June-July is the period of flower bud differentiation in loquat. At this time, keeping the soil appropriately dry can promote the growth of aboveground branches, increase the concentration of cell sap at growth nodes, and promote flower bud differentiation. Covering the area near the tree disk with grass can improve the tree's drought resistance and reduce soil fertilization.
4. Pest and disease control
High temperature and high humidity in summer can easily induce diseases, and special attention should be paid to leaf spot disease, anthracnose, rot disease, and yellow hairy caterpillar, which can seriously affect tree growth and, in severe cases, lead to tree death. Preventive measures should be taken well. Before new shoots sprout, Bordeaux mixture and carbendazim can be sprayed for control, and after disease occurs, the corresponding agents should be sprayed for treatment. For insect pests, manual capture and chemical control can be used. Their cocoons should be gathered and burned, and for larvae, fenvalerate or dichlorvos can be sprayed for control.
The above are the key points for management after loquat harvest. We hope they can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.