Apple - all articles

Yara's apple crop nutrition program can help you to achieve excellent growth and maximize the yield and quality of apples.

Fruit number in apple trees results from a variety of factors, including planting density, orchard system, pruning and thinning practices and also crop nutrition. The desired fruit size should be considered when managing crop load since allowing too many fruits to remain on the tree will result in smaller fruits and reduce tree vigor.

Size is a critical characteristic for grading apples. A minimal size, determined by the diameter of the equatorial section, is required on all grades. An evenly shaped and sized fruit is desired for the fresh market and also for canning. Apples size is greatly influenced by pruning and thinning practices and also by crop nutrition.

Apple weight is an important element for increasing yields. Provided that a desired quality is maintained, the aim of growers is to produce heavier fruits. Crop nutrition plays an important role on increasing apple weight.

Colour of the skin is a very appealing apple quality to consumers. Therefore, growers generally seek to improve fruit colouration. Crop nutrition can help to achieve the desired appearance.

Over-use or late applications of nitrogen reduces apple firmness, potentially resulting in more damage in transit and storage, and a reduced shelf life.

High yields are obtained on freely drained soils where water is not limiting.

Here you find an overview of the role of nutrients by apple growth stages.