What to Do About Nitrogen Deficiency in Figs? Detailed Remedial Methods
The fig is a subtropical deciduous small tree fruit, grown in tropical and temperate regions. Although it is called the "fig," the fig tree is quite stunning, with lush branches and leaves and high ornamental value; it is now a top choice for greening in many cities and gardens, and is also grown as a potted plant. However, in current cultivation, to prevent the trees from growing too densely, farmers apply little or no nitrogen fertilizer. This leads to severe nitrogen deficiency in the trees. So what should be done about nitrogen deficiency? What are the symptoms? Let's take a look below!
1. Symptoms of Nitrogen Deficiency
During fig cultivation, close attention should be paid to the tree vigor or leaves of the fig tree. If the leaves grow poorly, their color is rather dull, cracks gradually appear on the leaves and they gradually take on an entire-leaf shape, the leaf margins begin to curl upward, and touching them feels rather crisp and coarse. Nitrogen deficiency causes different symptoms in the branches and fruit as well: the growth rate of the branches slows down, and the roots lack nutrients, resulting in severe nutrient deficiency in the fruit, leaves and branches, ultimately causing a large reduction in yield and having a major impact on farmers' economic returns.
2. Effects of Nitrogen Deficiency
Figs require relatively large amounts of nutrients, water and fertilizer during growth. Although nitrogen deficiency in the early stage does little harm to the tree and has little effect on root development, in the later stage, as the duration of nitrogen deficiency lengthens and the degree worsens, root development is hindered, causing root rot and making the roots highly susceptible to root aphids, so that the branches cannot receive nutrients, causing premature aging and halted growth. Nitrogen deficiency also reduces the number of flower clusters differentiated on the tree, and the transverse diameter of the fruit becomes smaller. Although the fruit matures earlier and has better quality, nitrogen deficiency causes nutrients in the leaves to be transferred to the fruit, visibly fading the leaves, causing serious fruit drop and reducing yield.
3. Prevention and Control Methods
If topdressing is carried out immediately after nitrogen deficiency is found in the trees, branch growth will gradually recover, but the fruit will begin to turn brown and black, and fruit drop will occur. People may think this is damage from organic acids, but organic acid damage does not fade the leaves; instead, the leaf veins bulge, and organic acid damage comes faster and more severely than nitrogen deficiency. Therefore, if nitrogen deficiency is found, the fig orchard should be fertilized and the soil improved by adding fully decomposed organic fertilizer or commercial organic fertilizer to the soil to increase soil nutrients, because the roots are the foundation of the whole tree's nutrition and the first link in transport. This is the fundamental measure to solve nitrogen deficiency, along with reasonable nitrogen supplementation, to prevent prolonged nitrogen deficiency in the tree and meet its nutrient needs.
The fig market is now large, prices are quite attractive, and it is a relatively profitable fruit. Therefore, during cultivation, everyone must pay attention to whether the figs show symptoms of nitrogen deficiency, and if so, deal with it promptly, both for the final yield and for their own economic benefit. However, nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied excessively when supplementing it; excessive nitrogen fertilizer also has certain effects on the trees, causing nutrient excess in the tree and easily leading to flower and fruit drop.