A proper fertilization programme is necessary to sustain both citrus productivity and soil fertility over the longer term. ICL agronomists Fabio Vale, William Wang, Patricia Imas and Francisco Morell outline the nutrient needs of citrus fruit – a regionally important crop in the Americas, Europe and China.
Citrus fruit growers are an attractive end-market for fertilizer suppliers due to the high K and N requirement of this widely-cultivated cash crop and the efficacy of fertigation and foliar spraying. We examine the nutrient needs of citrus trees and how balanced application of fertilizers helps maximise citrus fruit quality and yield.
Applications of chloride-containing fertilizers need to be carefully managed for crops such as berries, broad beans, citrus fruits, nuts, potatoes and stone fruits. Selecting chloride-free nutrient sources instead can offer distinct advantages.
The use of low-chloride fertilizers is a proven strategy for managing chloride sensitivity in crops and avoiding excess chloride in soils. ICL offers a wide range of crop nutrient products for this purpose. Patricia Imas, agronomist at the company, outlines the main options.
Crop residues are the plant materials that are left in the field after the harvested portion is removed. Many growers are increasingly valuing these materials due to their nutrient content and soil health benefits. Dr Karl Wyant, Nutrien’s Director of Agronomy, highlights the value of crop residues and discusses how to manage these more effectively without interfering with on-farm activities. Ag retailers, in particular, are well-placed to advise growers on how to unlock value from their residues.
Ag Growth International (AGI) is a leading manufacturer of fertilizer blending systems. Robert Fitzpatrick, AGI’s product segment manager, highlights the latest innovations in fertilizer blending equipment and explains how these contribute to operational efficiency and agricultural productivity.
There is growing acceptance and integration of biostimulants into the wider fertilizer and agricultural markets. This is illustrated by rocketing sales, the spate of new product launches, and merger and acquisition activity.
Tree nuts are an important dietary source of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Orchards require balanced fertilization to promote healthy root growth, maintain tree vigour, and achieve yield targets in response to growing market demand. ICL agronomists Cristian Filote, Gali Carmi and Patricia Imas review their nutrient needs.
Brazil’s agricultural industry continues to expand at the same time that most of its nitrogen fertilizer industry has shut down. Meanwhile, Venezuela continues to deal with the consequences of years of underinvestment and mismanagement, and elsewhere, gas discoveries in other parts of the continent have not led to the new plant construction boom that had once been hoped for.
Turkey’s thriving agricultural sector has created a large and dynamic fertilizer market at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, explains Hakan Goral, the CEO of Tekfen Agri Industry Group.