What to Do About Calcium Deficiency in Citrus? A Detailed Guide to Scientific Calcium Supplementation
Besides a high demand for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, citrus also has a relatively high demand for calcium during growth. If citrus lacks calcium, it can cause fruit drop and produce deformed fruit, seriously affecting yield and quality. So what should you do about calcium deficiency in citrus? Let's take a detailed look together.
1. Calcium requirements
Calcium is one of the minerals essential for the growth and development of citrus. Generally speaking, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are called the essential elements for crop growth and are often higher than other elements, but for citrus, the demand for calcium is no lower than the demand for phosphorus. Calcium can combine with pectic acid in the fruit to form calcium pectate, which reduces the decomposition of the cell wall, improves fruit firmness and the toughness of the peel, and reduces fruit cracking in citrus. In addition, calcium can also inhibit the formation of ethylene, delaying the aging of citrus fruit and making citrus easier to store. It also has various physiological functions, promoting cell elongation and root growth.
2. Symptoms of calcium deficiency
Generally, calcium deficiency in citrus can be seen in three aspects, namely the leaves, the root system and the fruit. When leaves lack calcium, the tips of new leaves turn yellow and the yellowing gradually spreads toward the leaf margins, making the leaves small and narrow. As calcium deficiency becomes more severe, the yellowed area expands, and withered and fallen leaves may also appear. When the root system lacks calcium, the roots grow thin and weak with fewer fibrous roots, and in severe cases the roots turn black and rot easily. When the fruit lacks calcium, the fruit is small in the early stage and then develops, and in the later stage fruit cracking occurs, and the fruit becomes soft and unsuitable for storage.
3. Causes of calcium deficiency
The first cause is a low calcium ion content in the soil, especially in acidic soil, where calcium deficiency is very likely to occur. In addition, low organic matter content in the soil leads to serious loss of calcium ions. Applying large amounts of acidic chemical fertilizers during fertilization will accelerate the loss of calcium, or applying too much nitrogen fertilizer during fertilization will inhibit the root system's absorption of calcium, causing calcium deficiency in the plant. In addition, when the soil is waterlogged or compacted, the calcium content of the soil decreases, and the root system's absorption of it is also hindered.
4. Calcium supplementation measures
For highly acidic soil, an appropriate amount of lime powder or plant ash can be mixed into the base fertilizer when preparing the land and fertilizing, to regulate the pH. Water promptly during drought to keep the soil moist and improve the root system's absorption of calcium ions. Fertilize reasonably and scientifically, reduce the excessive application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers, reduce the antagonism between elements, and improve the root system's absorption of calcium. In the later stage, if the plant lacks calcium, calcium can be supplemented through foliar spraying.
The above is an introduction to what to do about calcium deficiency in citrus. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.