As fruit and nuts near maturity and harvest, the critical processes for perennial tree crops and vines are the accumulation of sugars, the maintenance of the sugar-to-acid ratio, and the development of colour, and for vines, an increase in anthocyanins (dark pigments).

Leaf test analysis is important during this time, to ensure there are no nutrient deficiencies that will impact fruit ripening.

While macronutrients (N, P, K, S and Ca) are important so too are micronutrients. Micronutrients play an important role in plant metabolism and work as activators and co-factors in critical processes like photosynthesis, the synthesis of sugars and pigments (anthocyanins), and the formation of woody tissues. For instance, boron improves fruit quality, size and colour; zinc and iron increase sugars; manganese improves cell wall lignification.

When macro and micronutrient deficiencies are identified it is critical to act. Using biostimulants in a tank mix with fertilisers or other treatments provides chelating properties, enhancing the uptake of salt-based macro or micronutrients. This is good news for growers as salt-based products are more readily available and lower in cost than chelated alternatives. Biostimulants can provide additional benefits, including tolerance to heat, salinity or water stress.

BioAg’s Fruit & Balance and HydraSea 50 in a tank mix with fertilisers provide these benefits. These biostimulants are natural chelating agents, enhancing plant bioavailability of deficient minerals as well as limiting losses. They contain bioactive complexes such as amino acids, enzymes, unique polysaccharides and plant hormone-like compounds.

The application of these immediately active biological compounds allows plants to save energy and increase the pace of their development – especially critical during maturation, as delayed growth due to nutrient deficiencies will negatively impact fruit weight, firmness, colour, total soluble solids, and storage quality.

Contact us if you need assistance in tissue (leaf) sampling and test analysis and/or advice on foliar applications, and nutrient combination at fruit maturation.