Title: Optimizing Fertilizers Application for Fruit Crops
Description: Mark Longstroth, District Extension Horticultural Educator for SW Michigan, MSU Extension
Abstract:
Many fruit growers ask me, how much they should fertilize their crops. The way they ask makes me think that they expect a quick, simple answer. There are a lot of things I want to know about your fruit planting before I answer that question. My job makes me an expert in growing fruit but the real expert in your trees is you. You know more about your orchard, vineyard or berry field than anyone. You know the variety, rootstock, soil type, and past performance of your planting, and you also have years of experience growing fruit at your location. My goal with this article is to get you to think about ways to cut your fertilizer applications and use that money elsewhere in your operation.