Citrus Blight
Citrus blight disease results in the wilt and decline of trees in groves. The cause of the disease has not been determined yet.
There is no known cure for citrus blight and once trees begin to decline, they never recover. Severe pruning of blighted trees will result in temporary vegetative recovery, but tree production drops again once they come back into production.
Although crop nutrition cannot eradicate the effects or control citrus blight there is increasing evidence that nutrition strengthening the tree can help mitigate the disease effects.
Tree loss due to Citrus Blight
Research in Florida across three citrus varieties confirms that tree loss due to citrus blight is significantly lower where calcium nitrate is a major component of the fertiliser program. The most responsive variety was Hamlin where tree death was halved.
Increased field evidence suggests that the use of calcium nitrate fertilisers helps reduce the impact of citrus blight. Trees are more productive and live longer than those in groves treated with ammonium nitrate. They generally have greater foliage, more vigor, and produce larger diameter, heavier fruit, with more juice.
Related articles
Increasing Citrus Fruit Size
Crop load determines fruit yield and size and a too high fruit number can result in small fruit. The use of careful thinning and growth regulators can reduce the number of fruit to an optimum amount per tree.
Managing Citrus Peel Thickness
Peel thickness requirements vary depending on the citrus type and market needs. Thicker peels provide higher levels of oil extraction and offer a greater resistance against pests and better shelf life. In the fresh fruit market a thicker peel is regarded...
Increasing Citrus Fruit Weight
Trials have shown that balanced nutrition with N, P, K, and the micronutrients, boron, iron, manganese and zinc, will help to improve citrus yield through increasing fruit weight.
It is important to make sure that these nutrients are not limited during...
Improving Citrus Juice Content
Juice content is particularly important in processed oranges but also in fresh fruit. A crop nutrition program - backed by good irrigation and water supply to help stimulate nutrient uptake during fruit production and improve the juice content is...
