Common apricot (Prunus armeniaca ) is a fruit tree from the family Rosaceae. This species belongs to the genus Prunus (plum). It is cultivated primarily in warmer, temperate regions in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. It also grows well in cooler temperate regions (the northern border of apricot cultivation is Poland), but due to the very early blooming buds and flowers are exposed to spring frosts.
Most apricot varieties withstand cold winters better than peaches, but spring frosts threaten their buds and flowers. The apricot blooms in early spring (March and the beginning of April in the Northern Hemisphere), before the leave development. Due to the early flowering season, apricot flowers are not very attractive to pollinating insects. Additionally, their flight is limited by unfavorable conditions in early spring (wind and low temperature).
Apricot has high nutritional requirements.
The method of mineral nutrition and the dose of fertilizers should be adapted to the fertility status of the soil and the condition of the trees.
An important supplement to soil fertilization is foliar fertilization.
It enables the trees to be optimally supplied with nutrients in subsequent development stages, which not only guarantees abundant fruiting in a present season, but also promotes the formation of flower buds for the next year.
Foliar feeding treatments are now an integral part of the mineral nutrition program for apricot trees, because:
For the proper development of plants micronutrients are also necessary:
Foliar use of the TYTANIT® biostimulant stimulates trees for better flowering and yielding.
An element that significantly increases the mechanical resistance of fruits is silicon. That’s why the immunity biostimulant OPTYSIL® and shelf life extender OPTYSIL® LONGLIFE – are an indispensable elements of treatments aimed at obtaining very good quality fruit.
The formation of a strong root system is essential for the correct development of the plant. The use of BACTIM® VIGOR – increases the microbial biodiversity of the soil, stimulates the development of the root system and its regeneration, accelerates the mineralization and humification of organic matter, improves the structure of the soil and its physical and chemical properties, and reduces the development of soil-borne fungal diseases.
- The first goal of these treatments is to keep the leaves in good condition on the trees, because premature defoliation (caused by diseases or nutrient deficiency) leads to tree weakness, a decrease in their resistance to frost and a significant drop in yield.
Therefore, first it is recommended to feed trees with nitrogen (PLONVIT® NITRO or PLONVIT® NITROMAG), magnesium (MIKROKOMPLEX®) and micronutrients (AMINO ULTRA® HORTI).
- The second important goal of feeding apricot trees before winter dormancy is to enable trees to accumulate nutrients needed for their development in early spring.
Therefore, before the beginning of leaf color turning, trees should be fed with a fertilizers containing zinc and boron (AMINO ULTRA® BORZIN) and potassium (PLONVIT® KALI or PLONVIT® KALPRIM).
These treatments are the first ones to prepare trees for the new growing season.
INTERMAG’s wide range of products allows to design individual foliar fertilization and biostimulation program – taking into account local soil conditions, cropping intensity, crop development stage and product availability.
