Why does winter jujube crack? Cause analysis and control measures
During the cultivation of jujube trees, farmers often encounter the phenomenon of winter jujube fruit cracking, which seriously affects the quality and yield of winter jujube and also brings serious economic losses to farmers. So what causes winter jujube fruit cracking? How should it be controlled? Let's find out together.
I. Causes of winter jujube fruit cracking
1. Water imbalance
If the soil is too dry in the early growth stage, and then there is continuous rainy weather or heavy rain from the color-turning stage to the ripening stage, the root system will be supplied with sufficient water in a short time, causing the flesh to expand rapidly while the peel growth rate cannot keep up, thus causing fruit cracking.
2. Nutrient imbalance
Some farmers apply large amounts of urea or ammonium nitrogen fertilizer during cultivation, making early-maturing vegetative growth too vigorous, causing an imbalance in the tree's nutrition and leading to fruit cracking. In addition, neglecting the application of trace elements causes malnutrition in the tree due to physiological nutrient deficiency, which can also cause fruit cracking.
3. Sunscald
Jujube trees have a small leaf area, and fruit on the sunny side is very easily exposed to direct sunlight. After the peel is exposed to strong sunlight, small sunscald scars form on the surface, causing the epidermis at the sunscald scars to become less resilient. After rain, it splits open and then spreads to other parts.
4. Improper fertilization
Most fruit growers apply fertilizer by broadcasting it on the ground or applying it shallowly at close range, while the early-maturing root system is mainly concentrated in the soil layer around 20 cm, which is precisely a root layer where soil moisture changes quickly and drastically. With watering and rain, the root system absorbs a large amount, causing drastic changes in the moisture in the intercellular spaces of the fruit and resulting in fruit cracking.
II. Control measures
1. Increase the application of organic fertilizer and biological bacterial fertilizer, improve the soil, enhance soil fertility, ensure sufficient water supply, and reduce fruit cracking.
2. Prune reasonably and improve air permeability, which helps the jujube fruit surface dry quickly after rainfall and reduces fruit cracking.
3. During the rainy season, pay attention to timely drainage, and during drought, irrigate promptly. It is recommended to help the jujube fruit surface dry quickly after rainfall and reduce fruit cracking. During the fruit expansion period, maintain soil moisture to prevent the soil from being too dry or too wet.
4. Strengthen fertilization. It is best to dig a ring-shaped trench outside the edge of the tree canopy projection for fertilization. The fertilization site should preferably be where the fibrous roots of the root system are concentrated, and the trench depth should be 30-40 cm. This helps the plant's root system grow downward, and when fertilizer and water change drastically, the root system's buffering capacity is also strengthened. It will not affect the normal growth of the fruit tree because of this. Cover with soil after fertilization.
The above is an introduction to the causes of winter jujube fruit cracking and control measures. I hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.