A Detailed Guide to the Latest Post-Harvest Management Methods for Apricot Trees
The apricot tree is a deciduous tree of the Rosaceae family, and its fruit has high nutritional value, while its kernels can be made into almonds, making it very popular in China. Although the early growth cycle is relatively long, once it enters the full fruiting stage it can be harvested almost once every year. After each harvest, management work must be done well to ensure the flowering and fruiting rate for the coming year. So the editor has brought you the post-harvest management methods for apricot trees; let's take a look together!
1. Clean the orchard in time
After the apricots ripen, the orchard cleaning work must be done well. First, carry out intertillage and weeding, keeping the tillage depth at about 11-14 cm, remove the weeds in the orchard, and destroy the overwintering sites of pests and disease pathogens. Then, before the apricot tree sheds its leaves, apply sufficient base fertilizer and carry out a deep tillage of about 35 cm. Moreover, since most pests and disease pathogens overwinter in fallen branches, fallen leaves and weeds, the weeding work must also be done well when cleaning the orchard, gathering the fallen leaves and dead branches from inside and outside the orchard and removing them from the orchard for burning. This prevents damage from pests and disease pathogens in the second year, which would affect the growth of the apricot tree.
2. Fertilizer and water management
After harvest, water and fertilize as early as possible, because most of the tree's nutrients have already left the tree along with the fruit. After harvest, the apricot tree is in a relatively weak state, so a certain amount of fertilizer and water is needed to restore its vigor. When fertilizing, pay special attention to apricot trees that are weak in growth and carry a high fruit load, and replenish nutrients in time. The ratio of organic to inorganic fertilizer must be well controlled, and the amount of fertilizer should be controlled according to tree age and fruit load. Also water in time to keep the soil moist and promote flower bud differentiation and branch maturity in the apricot tree. Water should not be excessive, and on rainy days attention must also be paid to drainage work.
3. Whitewashing and bark scraping
After harvest, overwintering management work is basically needed. First, whitewash the trunk of the apricot tree, which can effectively prevent sunscald caused by direct sunlight and also has a good preventive effect against freeze damage. The whitewash agent is mainly composed of lime, lime-sulfur mixture and soil, and an appropriate amount of insecticide can also be added to prevent damage from pests such as termites. Then carry out bark scraping on apricot trees with rough bark and many large cracks. Because bark is the overwintering site of many pests, proper bark scraping can destroy the overwintering reproduction of pests and reduce pest damage in the second year.
4. Pest and disease control
After harvest, due to the massive loss of nutrients, the tree vigor of the apricot tree declines and its immunity also decreases, so pest and disease damage is relatively serious. Therefore, after harvest we should, according to the actual situation of the apricot tree, do a good job in pest and disease control, disinfect regularly, spray foliar fertilizer, improve the nutrient accumulation of the fruit tree, and restore the vigor of the apricot tree as early as possible. Then observe the growth of the apricot tree frequently, and when abnormal conditions are found, take corresponding measures in time. After checking the specific cause, promptly use the corresponding pesticide for treatment to prevent the disease from spreading and expanding the affected area.
The above is a brief introduction to the post-harvest management methods for apricot trees. After harvest, we must do the management work well. Because the period after harvest is a time when the apricot tree is very weak in growth, management must therefore be strengthened with the goal of restoring the tree's vigor, to prevent unnecessary losses. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you everyone for reading and supporting.