How to manage loquat after picking? These key points you need to master
Every year, May to June is the ripening and marketing period for loquat, and some early-maturing varieties can be marketed as early as March to April. Management after picking must keep up so that the tree can continue to produce a high yield the next year without alternating bearing (on-year and off-year). So how should loquat be managed after picking? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.
1. Summer pruning
Summer pruning is carried out after picking, and this is also the most important pruning for loquat, and it should be done early rather than late. The summer shoot is the most important shoot for the loquat plant. For fruiting trees, the earlier the shoots emerge, the earlier flower bud differentiation occurs. Summer pruning generally involves thinning out dense branches, weak branches, overlapping branches, crossing branches and water sprouts in the canopy. This increases the tree's air and light penetration, lays the foundation for flower bud differentiation, and at the same time shortens the fruiting branches to prevent the shoots from moving outward and the base from becoming bare.
2. Thorough orchard cleaning
After pruning, clear all weeds from the orchard to prevent them from competing with the trees for water and nutrients and affecting tree growth. The pulled weeds and the pruned branches and leaves should be gathered and burned, and the remaining plant ash serves as potassium fertilizer needed for tree growth. The weeds and branches and leaves can also be buried deep as green manure, which can also provide nutrients for the trees.
3. Ditching and drainage
Summer is a period of high temperature and frequent rain, especially in the south during the plum rain season, when heavy rainstorms are very likely. At this time, ditching and drainage measures should be taken to avoid waterlogging and root rot. June to July is the period of flower bud differentiation for loquat. At this time, keeping the soil appropriately dry promotes the growth of aboveground branches, increases the concentration of cell sap at the growing nodes, and can promote flower bud differentiation. Covering the ground near the tree disk with grass can improve the tree's drought resistance and reduce soil fertilization.
4. Prevention and control of pests and diseases
High temperature and high humidity in summer easily induce diseases, and special attention should be paid to leaf spot, anthracnose, rot and yellow tussock moth, which can seriously affect tree growth and even cause tree death in severe cases. Preventive measures should be taken well. Before new shoots emerge, Bordeaux mixture and carbendazim can be sprayed for prevention and control, and after disease occurs, the corresponding agents should be sprayed for treatment. For pests, manual capture and chemical control can be used, their cocoons should be gathered and burned, and for larvae, fenvalerate or dichlorvos can be sprayed for control.
The above are the key points for managing loquat after picking. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.