How to manage loquat after harvest? These technical points must be mastered
Loquat is a common fruit, generally available on the market from May to June each year. Many fruit growers idle away after the loquat harvest, with nothing else to do, and at the same time neglect the management of the orchard. In fact, post-harvest management of loquat is very important in loquat cultivation, as it affects the yield of the coming year as well as the service life of the loquat trees. So today, follow along with the editor to learn about the post-harvest management techniques for loquat.
1. Pruning and orchard cleaning
The harvest time of loquat is different from that of many fruits, and right after harvest it happens to be summer, so after harvest we need to carry out summer pruning. This pruning is also the most important pruning, and it is best to prune as early as possible, as this can promote the loquat trees to enter the flower bud differentiation stage as early as possible. When pruning, we mainly prune the canopy, reasonably control the canopy's ventilation and light penetration, and clear out some dense branches, old branches, water sprouts, weak branches and messy branches. After the loquat trees are pruned, the orchard must be cleaned immediately, clearing away the pruned branches as well as weeds, fallen leaves and so on, and it is best to take them away from the orchard and burn them.
2. Drainage and disaster prevention
Right after the loquat fruit is harvested, the plum rain season arrives, and rainfall during this period is relatively heavy, so we need to dig ditches in the orchard as early as possible and promptly drain excess water out of the orchard, so as to avoid waterlogging that causes the loquat tree roots to rot. After the plum rain season passes, we need to prevent drought; in order to promote flower bud differentiation, we need to water reasonably, and at the same time we can use materials such as straw and weeds to cover the tree disc, which can improve the loquat trees' drought resistance. In addition, in winter we also need to prepare well for preventing freeze damage, because although loquat trees have relatively strong cold resistance, they will still be affected to a certain degree.
3. Heavy application of base fertilizer
After the loquat fruit is harvested, there is another very important point, which is to carry out topdressing. Generally, topdressing is carried out only after the branches and leaves are pruned and the orchard is cleaned; at about ten days to half a month after fruit harvest, we need to carry out topdressing, mainly with organic fertilizer, though of course decomposed farmyard manure can also be used, and it is best to use it together with chemical fertilizer, as this can cultivate strong branches and promote flower bud differentiation. Generally, the amount of fertilizer applied per loquat tree should be controlled at around 65 kg; although it is a heavy application of base fertilizer, it must not be excessive.
4. Pest and disease control
Right after the loquat fruit is harvested, the weather happens to be hot and humid; if management is improper, this kind of weather can very easily trigger the harm of pests and diseases, so we must prepare in advance for pest and disease control. Among these, the most common are the harm of branch and trunk rot and the yellow tussock moth. We can use Bordeaux mixture and pyrethroid insecticides respectively for control.
The above is the editor's introduction to the management techniques for loquat after fruit harvest. I hope these few tips can help all the grower friends, and I also hope they can help more friends. If you have other questions you need to consult about, you can leave us a message below, and we will do our utmost to answer them for you.