Many disease-causing pathogens (fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes) attack top fruit trees. These may damage the fruit directly, making it unattractive or inedible, but also weaken the top fruit tree by injuring or invading the leaves, trunk and branches. Damage to the top fruit trees reduces productivity and increases susceptibility to winter injury or attack by additional pests.
Minimizing Incidence of Top Fruit Rots and Diseases
The most common diseases are rust, scab, different rots and fire blight. Fire blight is the greatest limitation to European pear production. Attacks from a variety of insects and mites are frequent too. Good crop nutrition is essential to promote the health of apples and pear trees and make them more resistant to pests.
Crop Nutrition and Top Fruit Rots and Diseases
Potassium
It is important that potassium concentrations are in balance with other cations, particularly calcium, as preferential uptake of potassium over calcium will significantly increase the risk of rotten fruit and physiological disorders.
Calcium
Storage rots including Gloeosporium rot and Genicillium can be minimized by use of calcium. Repeated foliar applications are the most effective at alleviating this kind of damage.
Recommended Yara Fertilizers for Top Fruit
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YaraMila COMPLEX
12-4.8-14.9 + 8% S - Prilled NPK fertilizer which also contains magnesium and sulphur as well as micronutrients ideal for use on a wide range of arable and horticultural crops.
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YaraLiva TROPICOTE
15.5% N + 19% Ca - Granular calcium nitrate fertilizer for field application to a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita ZINTRAC 700
A fully formulated flowable liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 700 g/l zinc for foliar application to prevent and treat zinc deficiency on a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita BORTRAC 150
A liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 150 g/l boron for foliar application to provide additional boron or to treat boron deficiencies in a wide range of crops.
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YaraVita SENIPHOS
A liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing high concentrations of phosphate and calcium for foliar application to improve yield and quality in fruit and potatoes.
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YaraVita STOPIT
A liquid micronutrient fertilizer containing 160 g/l calcium for foliar application to control and reduce calcium related disorders in top fruit and other crops.
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YaraVita BUD BUILDER FL
A flowable liquid suspension fertilizer with nutrients and micronutrients including magnesium, zinc, nitrogen, boron and phosphate for foliar application to improve the flowering of top and soft fruit.