Fertilization and Plant Nutrition

Why it matters

Fertilization is one of the most guessed-at practices in fruit growing. Too little holds back growth and yield. Too much raises costs and hurts fruit quality. In cherries, for example, excess nitrogen can lead to heavy shoot growth, softer fruit and trees more prone to disease. Surplus fertilizer also ends up in soil and water, where it does environmental damage.

We base every fertilization program on analysis. Soil analysis, leaf analysis and, when needed, tissue analysis show what the tree is short of and what it has in excess. That lets you use fertilizer with less waste and build a nutrition plan that supports export-quality fruit.

What we assess

• Soil analysis: Before planting and at regular intervals: pH, lime, organic matter, salinity, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and micronutrients.
• Leaf analysis: Shows whether the tree is actually taking up nutrients. In cherries, leaf samples are usually taken in July and August from the middle of current-season shoots.
• Tissue and fruit analysis: Used when needed to track calcium and other elements in the fruit.
• Irrigation water: Nutrients and salts carried by the water are built into the program.
• Tree age and yield: In young orchards, the goal is healthy growth. In bearing orchards, nutrient needs are calculated from the expected crop.

Key nutrients

• Nitrogen (N): Essential for growth and yield, but rate and timing are critical. In cherries, post-harvest nitrogen helps the tree build reserves.
• Phosphorus (P): Supports root development and energy metabolism, especially around planting.
• Potassium (K): Drives fruit size, sugar accumulation and color.
• Calcium (Ca): Key for fruit firmness and storage quality. In cherries, it supports resistance to cracking.
• Boron (B): Plays a role in flowering, pollination and fruit set. Usually applied as a foliar spray.
• Zinc (Zn): Supports shoot and leaf development. Deficiency is common on calcareous soils.

Our process

1. Sampling plan: We divide the orchard into uniform blocks and set where and when soil and leaf samples are taken.
2. Analysis and interpretation: We compare results with reference values and identify shortages and excesses.
3. Fertilization program: We build a seasonal program by tree age and yield, planning soil, fertigation and foliar applications together.
4. Application support: We check rates, tank mixes and timing with your team.
5. Monitoring and updates: We track tree growth, fruit quality and new lab results and update the program every year.

Nutrition and fruit quality

Well-balanced trees produce larger, firmer fruit with longer shelf life, which matters most on long export cold chains. They also cope better with stress and some diseases, which helps reduce crop protection needs and supports residue-free production. We recommend keeping records of every application, so you can see what works over time and answer buyers' traceability questions.

Who is it for?

• Investors preparing soil before planting a new orchard
• Growers struggling with fruit size, color or firmness
• Corporate farms that want to record and manage fertilizer use and cost

Nutrition works best alongside good irrigation and pruning. We can bring all three together into one plan for your orchard.