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Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Nutrition”
By Muhammad A. Shahid and Davie Kadyampakeni Silicon (Si) is getting a lot of attention from citrus growers as a tool to help trees handle stress, especially during cold and freeze conditions. It toughens up plant tissues, strengthens cell walls and helps trees better handle stress when it is applied at the right time. BEFORE FREEZE The most important thing …
By Davie Kadyampakeni, Alisheikh Atta and Edilaine Traspadini Citrus trees require optimal nutrition to be able to maintain high fruit yields, canopy size and good root health. Adequate nutrition supports not only yield and growth, but also tree resilience to disease and environmental stress, which is particularly important in HLB-affected groves. A balanced mix of macronutrients and micronutrients is needed …
Recent research indicates that citrus bark and mature leaves have significantly different nitrogen remobilization patterns. Study authors are Huaye Xiong, Bin Hu, Jie Wang, Xing-Zheng Fu, Yueqiang Zhang, Xiaojun Shi and Heinz Rennenberg, all with Southwest University in China. Here is the article summary: Seasonal nitrogen (N) storage and remobilization are critical for tree growth. Deciduous trees primarily store N …
Chinese researchers have delved into the complex interactions between transcription processes and metabolism in sweet orange plants deficient in boron. Boron deficiency can lead to reduced yields and compromised fruit quality. Authors of the research are Xiuyao Yang, Ke Wen, Xiujia Yang, Mengjie Zhang, Ling Zhu, Yinqiang Zi, Tuo Yin, Xulin Li, Xiaozhen Liu and Hanyao Zhang, all with the …
Noting that magnesium (Mg) deficiency is a problem in Florida citrus, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) offers the following information about its symptoms, cause and solutions. SYMPTOMS AND CAUSE Trees with inadequate Mg supply have no symptoms in the new spring flush, but leaf symptoms will develop as the leaves age and the fruit …
In a recent study, Chinese researchers found that citrus seedlings clearly prefer nitrate over ammonium as a nitrogen source. The researchers — Hao Xu, Wenlang Hu, Kaiyuan Du, Yan Dong, Qingru Fan, Zengrong Huang, Lin-Tong Yang, Li-Song Chen and Jiuxin Guo — are with the Fujan Agriculture and Forestry University. In their study, the researchers compared two citrus cultivars (C. reticulata …
By Davie Kadyampakeni, Alisheikh Atta, Jonas Pereira de Souza Junior, Christopher Vincent and Tripti Vashisth Typically, citrus water requirements are low in the winter and spring due to cooler temperatures but peak in summer and early fall due to rising temperatures. Thus, improved irrigation management is critical in these times of the year for improved production. Because most citrus trees …
A University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher recently highlighted a number of benefits from using silicon as a nutrient for citrus. Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor at the North Florida Research and Education Center, presented silicon research findings at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo in August. According to Shahid, silicon is categorized as a plant …
By Tripti Vashisth, Johann Hiller and Taylor Livingston Poor fruit quality has long been a significant hurdle for sweet orange growers in the HLB era. With high fruit drop rates and challenges in harvest management, many growers find themselves picking fruit earlier than ideal, resulting in subpar Brix levels. To effectively improve the Brix of the fruit, it is essential …
Georgia citrus growers need fertilizer recommendations that are specific to the state’s production. This would allow growers to make better decisions concerning crop management. That is one of the reasons Mary Sutton, University of Georgia (UGA) assistant professor and citrus Extension specialist, was hired in August 2024. She is conducting research that will benefit Georgia growers who need to mostly …
One of the themes that emerged during the citrus seminars at the Citrus & Specialty Crop Expo was that integration of multiple strategies is needed to keep HLB-infected trees productive. Davie Kadyampakeni’s talk detailed the five Rs of sustainable citrus production in the era of HLB. Kadyampakeni is an associate professor at the University of Florida Institute of Food and …
A recently published Chinese study found that long-term substitution of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers can improve the quality of citrus fruits. The authors found that 50% organic nitrogen substitution is the appropriate proportion for promotion in Newhall navel orange production. The study is titled “Organic fertilizer substitution synergistically improves the fruit-soil-bacteria system in Newhall navel orange under long-term management.” …
Potassium plays a vital role in plant health, affecting photosynthesis, sugar movement and crop quality. In citrus, sugars such as sucrose, fructose and glucose not only determine taste but also influence market success. While it’s known that potassium boosts sugar levels in fruit, the underlying mechanisms — especially in perennial trees like citrus — are not fully understood. The balance …
By Davie Kadyampakeni, Noor Basar, Alisheikh Atta, Muhammad Shahid, Shahid Iqbal and Alan Wright Citrus trees in Florida impacted by HLB have limited nutrient uptake largely due to limited root mass, compromised physiology and extremely sandy soil. The state’s current nutrient management guidelines were developed based on data prior to the spread of HLB, when trees had dense canopies and …
Leaf tissue analysis is a key to building a good citrus fertilization program in North Florida and South Georgia, according to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers. The researchers are Muhammad Shahid, assistant professor of horticulture, and postdoc scholar Shahid Iqbal, both with the North Florida Research and Education Center. “Leaf tissue analysis determines the …
Soil sampling is one of two keys to building a good citrus fertilization program in North Florida and South Georgia, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers wrote recently. The authors are Muhammad A. Shahid, assistant professor of horticulture, and postdoc scholar Shahid Iqbal, both with the North Florida Research and Education Center. Shahid and Iqbal …
By Muhammad A. Shahid and KeAndre Leaks Silicon (Si) is an emerging powerhouse in citrus production, offering wide-ranging benefits for plant health, fruit quality and stress resilience. While not traditionally considered essential, silicon was officially recognized as a “plant beneficial substance” in 2012 by the American Association of Plant Food Control Officials. Its inclusion as an approved input by the …
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: Featured presenters in the video are Parry Klassen, CURES executive director; Courtney Jallo, CURES senior program …
A newly published article in the Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science explains how enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) can help maximize yields while reducing farmers’ chances of hurting their pocketbooks or the planet. EEFs include controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) and slow-release fertilizers (SRFs). Hardeep Singh, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) assistant professor of cropping …
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has been required to update all basin management action plans (BMAPs) by July 1. As part of this requirement, FDEP is adding five-year milestones to each BMAP, where they didn’t previously exist. FDEP has allocations assigned to each entity in the BMAP. Agriculture is assigned an allocation in each BMAP, and FDEP assigns …
