Detailed Explanation of Key Post-Harvest Management Techniques for Pomegranate

Autumn Application of Base Fertilizer: After the fruit is harvested, apply an appropriate amount of base fertilizer, mainly organic fertilizer, which can be mixed with an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Radial trench fertilization works well; the fertilization trench should be 30-50 cm deep and about 40 cm wide, with the length and number of trenches depending on the specific situation.

Shaping and Pruning: Winter pruning is mainly thinning and long-release pruning. Thin out surplus whorled branches, crossing branches, and overly dense drooping branches, diseased and pest-damaged branches, and dead branches inside the canopy, so as to both balance tree vigor and improve ventilation and light penetration. Train fruiting branch groups to fill the inner canopy and expand the fruiting area. For branches whose fruiting position has shifted severely outward, choose a suitable location for renewal pruning. The mixed buds of pomegranate all grow at the top or near the top of robust short branches; short branches and fruiting mother branches should be retained and left unpruned, and must not be spur-pruned.

Mounding Soil for Cold Protection: Low winter temperatures can easily freeze the root crown of pomegranate, so soil must be mounded around the root crown before the soil freezes, to a thickness of about 20 cm. The mounded soil should be moist and loose, and soil should be taken from a certain distance away from the roots to prevent root damage. After the soil thaws in spring, remove the mounded soil promptly to prevent a large number of root suckers from sprouting.

Irrigation of Freezing Water: Irrigating with freezing water helps the tree survive the winter safely and prevents spring drought, and can also kill some overwintering pests. It should be done before the soil freezes, and thorough irrigation is appropriate. After winter irrigation, loosen the soil promptly to conserve moisture and prevent soil compaction.

Pest and Disease Prevention: Autumn and winter pests and diseases include aphids, peach fruit borers, red spiders, dry rot, and brown spot disease. Diseased and pest-damaged fruits and diseased branches should be pruned off, old and cracked bark scraped off, fallen leaves under the tree cleared away, and all of these thoroughly buried deep or burned in a centralized manner.