Jujube fruit cracking affects appearance and yield, so control methods must be mastered

    This autumn, rainfall has been excessive, and the jujubes have entered the late stage of maturity. To prevent jujube fruit cracking, the following measures are proposed: 

Jujube fruit cracking

    1. Choose suitable varieties: When establishing an orchard, choose crack-resistant jujube varieties, or late-maturing jujube varieties that ripen after the rainy season, as well as jujube varieties suitable for harvesting and processing at the white-ripe stage, so as to avoid fruit cracking as much as possible.

 
    2. Strengthen tree vigor and improve resistance to fruit cracking: Strengthen soil, fertilizer and water management, and use organic fertilizers with comprehensive nutrients, compound fertilizers, biological bacterial fertilizers, etc. Do not apply chemical fertilizers alone. In normal years, from after jujube harvest in late autumn to before sprouting, apply decomposed base fertilizer early, water thoroughly, and in the early flowering stage and young fruit stage, topdress and water in time; in years with more rain, when the jujubes enter the white-ripe stage, drain water promptly and keep the soil loose, avoid weed overgrowth and soil compaction, keep the jujube trees growing robustly, and improve disease resistance. 

    3. Spray mineral elements and growth regulators: Spraying calcium can prevent jujube fruit cracking. From late July onward, spray a 0.3% calcium chloride aqueous solution on the jujube trees once every 10 to 15 days until harvest, which can reduce the jujube fruit cracking rate. Spraying calcium chloride can also reduce losses caused by cracking and rotting during drying and processing of jujubes. Disease and pest control should be carried out at the same time as spraying. At the same time, plant growth regulators should be used reasonably, and fertilizers and pesticides should not be sprayed at noon when the sunlight is strong, so as to avoid high-concentration agents under high temperatures causing stimulation to the jujubes. 

    4. Rain-shelter cultivation: Rain-shelter cultivation is the most effective method for preventing fruit cracking in flatland jujube orchards. Build rain shelters, and regulate soil moisture and air humidity through sprinkler irrigation, drip irrigation, seepage irrigation inside the arched shed and opening and closing of rainproof cloth, which can not only reduce fruit cracking, but also reduce diseases and improve the marketability of jujubes. Using rain-shelter cultivation measures for jujube trees in the mature season can prevent jujube fruit cracking.