Over-use or late applications of nitrogen reduces top fruit firmness, potentially resulting in more damage in transit and storage, and a reduced shelf life.
Increasing Top Fruit Firmness
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Phosphorus sprays applied six weeks post petal fall can be used to increase fruit firmness improving long-term storage potential at the same time.
Calcium
Calcium has a major role to play in maximizing top fruit quality by providing firm fruit. Cell wall integrity and cell-to-cell adhesion is improved, resulting in a tougher flesh that is less prone to bruising or tissue breakdown.
Soil applied calcium nitrate is very effective in improving fruit firmness. When using foliar applications, the more sprays the better, provided that products such as calcium nitrate don’t deliver too much nitrogen, creating nutrient imbalances and loss in quality.
Trials suggest that for firmness the critical value of calcium in top fruit at harvest is higher than the 5mg/100g fresh weight recommended for minimizing bitter pit.
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.