What causes pomegranate fruit cracking? Plus the latest solutions
Pomegranates are very prone to fruit cracking during cultivation. Cracked pomegranates rot easily after the rainy season, and they are also hard to sell because of their poor appearance, which troubles many growers. So what exactly is pomegranate fruit cracking? And how should it be solved? Below, Qinong Web brings you the causes of pomegranate fruit cracking and the solutions. Let's take a look.
1. Variety
There are many pomegranate varieties, but not every variety is flawless. Many varieties were bred by local growers through years of experience, and these varieties can adapt perfectly to the local environment, but when they are moved to another unsuitable environment, fruit cracking occurs. In addition, some varieties have large fruits with thin, smooth skin, which makes them very prone to cracking.
Control method: When selecting varieties, choose ones suited to the local environment, or choose varieties with medium-sized fruits, thicker skin, and rough skin that does not crack easily.
2. Soil and fertilizer
When pomegranates are planted in soil that is fairly sticky, retains a lot of water, and has poor permeability, the fruits produced are not only of poor quality but also prone to cracking. Improper fertilization can also cause fruit cracking. In particular, many people apply mostly chemical fertilizers to save costs and basically do not apply organic fertilizer, which leads to a lack of many trace elements in the soil, severe soil erosion, and soil compaction, so fruit cracking is likely to occur.
Control method: It is best to choose yellow loam soil with higher terrain, a sunny aspect, fairly deep soil layers, loose texture, and fertility. When fertilizing, mainly use organic fertilizer or farmyard manure, and try not to apply chemical fertilizer.
3. Temperature and light
Pomegranates also have a certain relationship with temperature and light. The fruit expands rapidly under high-temperature conditions, and if the soil cools down, it can cause fruit cracking. In addition, areas with large day-night temperature differences are also prone to fruit cracking. Especially after being exposed to the sun during the day and then cooling down at night, the cracks often appear on the sunny side.
Control method: Cover the ground with plastic film or rice straw, which gives good drought prevention and heat preservation, prevents sudden temperature changes, and narrows the temperature difference. The fruits can be bagged to protect them from sun, rain, and sudden cold and heat changes, which has a certain buffering effect on both temperature and light.
4. Water
The seeds of pomegranates have a very high water content. When the fruit is ripening, pay attention to soil moisture and air humidity. During the ripening period, if the fruit absorbs too much water, it will burst the skin and cause cracking. In addition, excessively high air humidity has the same effect.
Control method: During the pomegranate ripening period, water sparingly or stop watering. In the rainy season, drain water promptly to prevent waterlogging or excessive moisture in the soil. Humidity can be addressed by bagging the fruit.
The above are the causes of pomegranate fruit cracking and the solutions brought to you by Qinong Web. There are many causes of pomegranate fruit cracking. Before planting, pay attention to protective measures. For more agricultural knowledge, please stay tuned to Qinong Web.