To assist growers, the Coalition for Urban Rural Environmental Stewardship (CURES) has released a new bilingual educational video, 4Rs and Citrus Nitrogen. It is available in English and Spanish.
The video focuses on nitrogen application in citrus crops, highlighting the 4Rs of nutrient management:
- Right rate
- Right time
- Right place
- Right source
Featured presenters in the video are Parry Klassen, CURES executive director; Courtney Jallo, CURES senior program manager; and Douglas Amaral, area farm advisor for Kings County Cooperative Extension.
“Plants use more nitrogen than any other nutrient,” Amaral says in the video. “Nitrogen is used in the tree’s DNA and its hormones to perform certain functions … When nitrogen is deficient in the tree, it can limit growth.”
Amaral says there are three forms of nitrogen in soil – soil organic matter, ammonium and nitrate.
“Research and field experience have shown that, on average, a mature navel orange tree needs about 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre for a crop yield of 25,000 pounds per acre,” Amaral says. He adds that a similar nitrogen rate is needed for mandarin trees.
The 4Rs principles serve as a foundation for efficient nitrogen use, reducing environmental risks such as runoff and soil degradation. Learn more here about the 4Rs concept from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Part of the Crop Nutrient Minute Series, the video provides practical tips in a concise format. It also qualifies for 0.5 continuing education credit, offering a convenient way for growers to stay compliant and informed.
CURES was formed in 1997 with seed money from Western Plant Health. The mission of CURES is to create and deliver science-based solutions and education to ensure that tools to control pests and grow plants are used in ways that protect people and the environment.
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