What are the latest causes of fig fruit drop?
The fig is a fruit that combines medicinal value, ornamental value and economic value. It is suitable for cultivation in deep, loose and fertile soil, and it likes warmth and tolerates poor soil. In recent years its market price has gradually risen, and market demand has grown larger and larger, which has accordingly drawn many people to grow it. The longer it is grown, the more problems can be found, and fruit drop is the most common problem among them. Fruit drop causes fig yields to fall sharply and affects growers' economic interests, so what are the causes of fig fruit drop? Let's take a look!
1. Soil
The root system of the fig tree is very developed and has a strong ability to absorb nutrients. The reason the fig tree has luxuriant branches and leaves is the ability of its roots. Although its requirements for soil are not very strict and its adaptability is strong, the pH value of the soil still has a certain effect on figs. Fig trees grow best in weakly alkaline or neutral soil, and the most suitable pH value is 7.2-7.5. They are relatively salt- and alkali-tolerant fruit trees, and they need a large amount of calcium during growth. Therefore, if the soil is on the acidic side, it will affect the vitality of the tree roots and lead to poor nutrient absorption, causing flower and fruit drop. So if the soil is acidic, lime should be mixed with the soil to neutralize it.
⟦NL>2. Water
The leaves of the fig tree are dense, large and thick, so they need more water, and the rate of water evaporation speeds up accordingly. Especially when the fruit tree grows new shoots and the fruit is in the rapid expansion growth period, the water requirement becomes larger and larger. Therefore, if water is lacking during growth, especially in the stages just mentioned, and the soil is too dry, it will affect the normal growth and development of the fruit tree. The flesh becomes coarse, the fruit becomes smaller, and quality is reduced. In the end, figs ripen too early, shrivel and drop.
3. Pests
Pests are generally the main cause of damage leading to fruit drop in fruit trees. For example, nematodes parasitize the roots of fig trees, gnaw and damage the young roots, injure the root tissues, cause nodular formations on the roots, root rot, and make it difficult for new roots to survive, so the root system gradually shrinks. This leads to poor nutrition in the plant, stunted growth, gradual yellowing of leaves, and premature ripening that forms fruit drop. There are also longhorn beetles. Longhorn beetle pests gnaw in crisscrossing patterns under the cortex and gradually bore into the xylem, entering the center of the trunk. The diseased tree weakens, lacks enough nutrients, and drops fruit, and the trunk becomes hollow, so it will break when the wind blows lightly, seriously causing the death of the whole tree.
4. Fertilizer
Many friends apply only a single fertilizer when fertilizing, but this causes the tree to lack other elements. Good growth of fruit trees requires the even absorption of all elements. Nitrogen deficiency reduces flower bud differentiation in the fruit tree. Although the fruit shape in the early stage is relatively normal, the fruit becomes smaller, ripens early and has poor quality, but because of nitrogen deficiency the nutrients in the leaves move to the fruit, causing serious fruit drop on the upper part of the branches. Potassium deficiency causes leaf scorch in the fruit tree, and the growth rate of shoots becomes extremely slow or even stops. The roots cannot grow and develop normally, nutrient supply is insufficient, and fruit drop is then caused.
The above are the four causes of fig fruit drop. In fact, in the end it is not only nitrogen and potassium deficiency that cause fruit drop; a lack of some trace elements such as magnesium, calcium and iron will also affect the growth of fig trees. They cause growth obstruction of varying degrees in the fruit tree and lead to flower and fruit drop. Fruit drop has a huge impact on the final yield, and at the same time it also causes losses of varying degrees to growers' economic interests.