Fertilization of peach trees: a comprehensive recommendation

Besides recommended fertilizers for meeting the peach trees nutrient requirements, you can find useful information about growing peaches and nectarines

 

(Bearing phase)

Plant population: 500-700 Trees/Ha.
Soil type: light to medium.

 

 

The recommended average rates of nutrients (Kg/Ha)

N	P2O5	K2O
150-200	22-44	200-250

 

Fertigation (Kg/Ha)

Time of application	Nutrient requirement			Recommended fertilizer
	N	P2O5	K2O	Multi-K	MAP	AN
Spring *to early summer	70-100	22-44	80-100	200-260	80-160	100-140
Summer **	35-40	-	60-75	160-200	-	40
Post harvest	45-60	-	60-75	160-200	-	70-100
Total	150-200	22-44	200-250	520-660	80-160	210-280

* It is recommended to start fertilizing early, approximately a month before regeneration.
** End fertigation 50 days before harvest.
Iron chelates should be administered in lime soils.

Note: Divide application into weekly amounts and apply with at least three hours of irrigation. 
Fertilization recommendation should be adjusted according to leaf analysis.

Peaches and nectarines

1. General

The peach fruit grows on the shoots of the previous year. Different varieties are differential regarding their climatic needs, in particular the amount of cold units. In a tropical climate, the peach does not grow, unless it is in a high lying mountainous region, and even then, the harvest will be poor. The reason is that high winter temperatures cause shedding of flowers and fruitlets. The peach is sensitive to spring frost and prefers a dry summer.

 

In countries with a summer rainfall the peach suffers from diseases and fungi. The peach has a large number of small fruits, and therefore it is necessary to thin them out, by hand or with the aid of chemicals. It is important to make sure that the quantity of fruit borne by the tree is in proportion to its size. In tropical climates, the peach blooms twice and yields two harvests, but of poorer quality.

 

2. Cultural requirements

Soil
The peach grows in diverse soils. Like other deciduous fruits, it suffers from excessive moisture in the beginning of the spring, and therefore a well-drained soil is preferable. It is sensitive to a pH above 8.4 and also to salinity, although less sensitive rootstocks do exist. It is possible to plant a peach in shallow soil since the root system is shallow too.

Water
The peach is drought resistant and can grow even without irrigation, however, in order to obtain an economical crop with good quality fruit, it is customary to irrigate with a quantity of 500-700 mm of water. In a young orchard, the irrigation is the same as for apples, almonds and other deciduous fruits.

 

 

In a mature orchard, there are various recommendations for early and late peaches. The factor is according to the following table:

	Factor
	April	May	June	July	August	Sept	October
Early peaches	0.4	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.4	0.4	0.4
Late peaches	0.4	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.25
	Irrigation Rate (mm/day)
	April	May	June	July	August	Sept	October	Total (mm)
Early peaches	1.5	3.0	3.5	2.0	2.0	1.5	1.5	450
Mid-season	1.5	3.0	4.0	4.0	2.0	2.0	1.5	550
Late peaches	1.5	2.5	3.0	3.5	5.0	5.0	2.0	700

 

Growing Seasons

The tree becomes dormant in November-December according to the varieties. Flowering commences in February-March. The blooms are abundant and last approximately 10 days. The time from flowering to the ripening of the fruit depends on the variety and climatic conditions. In a cold climate, this time will be longer, but the quality, colour and taste of the fruit will improve. 2/3 of the final volume of the fruit unit accumulates during the last developmental stage, and therefore it is very sensitive to water deficit in this period.

3. Dripping recommendations:

• One lateral per row with 4.0  liter/h drippers 1 meter apart.
• Irrigation times should be every 1-3 days. It is possible also to use pulse irrigation.

 

 

Fertigation recommendations in France

(source: Chambre d’agriculture, Horta del Rossello No. 156 Dec. 1997)

 

Nutrients requirements:

Variety	Type	Expected yield	N	P2O5	K2O
May crest	Short season	15 t/ha	80	20-30	120-125
Fantasia	Mid season	30 t/ha	110	30-40	180-185
Fair lane	Late season	40 t/ha	140-145	40-50	250-270

 

 

 

Fertilization program: Option 1 (minimum)

 

	Fertilizer	May crest (kg/ha)	Fantasia (kg/ha)	Fair lane (kg/ha)
February (soil application)	10-5-20 (*)	400	600	800
April (Fertigation)	Calcium nitrate 15-0-0+25 CaO	3 x 60	3 x 60	4 x 60
One month before harvest	Potassium nitrate	2 x 50	2 x 70	2 x 100

 

Fertilization program: Option 2 (classic)

 

	Fertilizer	May crest (kg/ha)	Fantasia (kg/ha)	Fair lane (kg/ha)
February (soil application)	10-5-20 (*)	300	600	800
April (Fertigation)	Calcium nitrate 15-0-0+25 CaO	2 x 50	3 x 60	4 x 60
April to June (Fertigation)	Soluble: 15-5-25 or 16-6-27	10 x 25	10 x 25	10 x 25
One month before harvest	Potassium nitrate	0	1 x 50	2 x 50

• In case of soils rich in K and/or poor in P, an 11-8-18 type fertilizer should be preferred.

 

Recommendations for peach plantation grown in high tunnels in Italy

Growing method: High tunnels.
Tree density: 750 trees/ha.
Picking season: May (very precocious).

Side dressing

Time of application	Ammonium nitrate (kg/ha)	Multi-K (kg/ha)
Early March, Fruits are ~2 cm in diameter	200	200, as prills
Early April	200	200, as prills

 

 

Special treatments to increase fruit size in South Africa

Timing of application	Multi-K, side dressing (kg/ha)	Multi-K, foliar application
8 weeks before harvest	100	-
4 weeks before harvest	50	-
2 weeks before harvest	-	1%

 

Fall is an excellent season to prepare the tree to next season requirements in N, K and Fe. As long as foliage is green and active it will readily absorb these nutrients applied by foliar sprays.

 

A general guideline for splitting K application in fertigation programs for peaches

Growth stage	Share of K2O at stage (%)	Recommended rate (kg/ha of K2O)
Leaf emergence	15	23
Flowering	20	30
Fruit-set	25	37
Fruit growth	25	37
Fruit maturation	15	23
Total	100	150

 

Fertilization of peaches in Spain

Soil type: light to medium, good drainage, pH 6-8.
Annual irrigation rate: ~6,000 m3/ha.
Plant population: 400-600 plants/ha.
Expected yield: 35 t/ha.

 

Fertigation: Recommended rates of nutrients and fertilizers

Month	Crop requirements (kg/ha)				Recommended fertilizers (kg/ha)
	N	P2O5	K2O	MgO	Multi-K	MAP	AN	Magnisal
March	5	10	5	0	11	16	5	0
April	15	15	30	5	65	25	0	32
May	20	15	40	5	87	25	7	32
June	27	10	50	15	110	16	0	95
July	30	5	60	15	130	8	5	95
August	30	5	50	10	105	8	25	63
September	6	5	5	5	11	8	0	31
Total annual	133	65	240	55	520	106	42	348

 

Multi-K – Potassium nitrate (13-0-46).
MAP – mono-ammonium phosphate (0-61-0).
Amm. Nit – Ammonium Nitrate (34-0-0).
Magnisal – Magnesium nitrate (10.8-0-0-15.8).

Source: “Growing Peaches in North Carolina”.

 

Fertilizers

Fertility requirements should be determined by visual analysis, soil analysis, and foliar analysis. Trees putting on 12 to 18 inches of terminal growth per year usually require less fertilizer in heavier soils. Foliar samples for analysis should be collected from mid-July through mid-August. Instructions on sampling can be obtained from your county Extension Center. A small fee is charged for each sample submitted for analysis. Table 3 lists the recommended foliar concentrations of key elements for peaches.

Table 3. Suggested peach foliar analysis levels based on foliar analysis report

Nutrient	Desired range
Nitrogen	2.0 to 3.0 percent
Phosphorus	0.1 to 0.3 percent
Potassium	1.5 to 3.0 percent
Calcium	1.0 to 1.8 percent
Magnesium	0.2 to 0.4 percent
Iron	50 to 100 ppm
Manganese	50 to 100 ppm
Zinc	20 to 40 ppm
Copper	5 to 10 ppm
Boron	20 to 40 ppm

 

Source: G. Cummings, North Carolina State University.

General rule-of-thumb fertilization rates for peach trees are shown in Table 4. The principal nutrients needed are nitrogen and potassium, but it may be necessary to supply other nutrients as well.

 

 

 

Table 4. Fertilizer guide for peach trees

Age (years)	Annual amount of 10-10-10 fertilizer (pounds per tree)*
Newly planted	0.25 to 0.5
1 to 2	0.5 to 1.0
3 to 5	1.5 to 3.0
5 to 10	3.0 to 5.0
Over 10	5.0 to 7.0

Note: Adjust the rate for your trees' overall vigor.

* Other formulations are appropriate; adjust the amount applied for the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium content.

Nitrogen. This nutrient must be applied regularly to both nonbearing and bearing peach trees. Bearing trees need enough nitrogen to ensure good terminal growth (12 to 18 inches per year), fruit production, and fruit size. If a peach tree does not receive sufficient nitrogen during its nonbearing years, its growth will be weak. The amount of nitrogen needed is determined by the tree's age, overall vigor, crop load, and weed competition. Too much nitrogen can stimulate excessive vegetative growth (such as water sprouts), increase susceptibility to winter injury, and decrease fruit color and flower bud formation.

 

Nitrogen can be applied in early winter (mid December) on heavy soils or in the early spring before bud swell. On sandy soils in North Carolina, it is best to apply nitrogen in the spring just before or during bud break. Summer nitrogen applications are not recommended. For orchards on piedmont soils that have a high native fertility, the lower rates of nitrogen in Table 4 should be adequate for good tree growth and fruit production. On sandy soils, the higher rate should be used.

 

A split application of nitrogen fertilizer is highly recommended in North Carolina because of the high probability of a spring frost or freeze in many locations. Half of the fertilizer is applied in late February or early March; if a crop is set, the other half is applied in late April or early May. For trees on sandy soils, a third nitrogen application may be necessary. Nitrogen should not be applied after June 15 to avoid winter injury and decreased fruit quality.
If terminal shoot growth is too vigorous (more than 12 to 18 inches), reduce the amount of nitrogen applied. If terminal growth is weak (less than 6 to 8 inches), increase the amount of nitrogen.

 

Potassium. If soil and leaf analyses indicate a deficiency, potassium can be added in the late fall or spring. Although the most common potassium source is muriate of potash, other potassium sources will work equally well. Cost may be the deciding factor. Excessive potassium can interfere with calcium and magnesium uptake and is therefore undesirable.

 

Other Nutrients. Many North Carolina sites may need additional phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Soil and leaf analyses are the best means to determine what is needed to correct deficiencies.

 

Macro elements removed by 1 ton marketable product

 

N	P	K	Ca	Mg	S
-------------------------------------- Kg/ton ------------------------------------------
1.2	0.15	2.5

Source: Kinoch: VOLHOUBARE LANDBOU, RSA. Processed by Frans Lourens, Haifa, RSA May, 1999.

 

 

Nutrient sufficiency ranges

(source: A & L, Agronomy Handbook, Ankerman & Large Eds.)

 

 

Peach	N	S	P	K	Mg	Ca	Na	B	Zn	Mn	Fe	Cu	Al	Mo
	------------------------ % -------------------------							--------------- p.p.m ---------------
From	3.50	0.15	0.20	2.00	0.35	1.50	0.01	25	20	35	100	6
To	4.50	0.40	0.50	3.50	0.60	2.50	0.10	50	50	80	250	20

 

 

Plant tissue sampling procedures

 

Stage of growth	Plant part
Five to eight weeks after full bloom	4 to 8 leaves from spurs or near base of current season’s growth

 

Recommended rates of major nutrients (% of dry weight)

 

Source	N	P	K	Mg	Mn
I	3.2-3.5	0.12-0.15	1.8-2.2	0.50	40-60 ppm
II	N/K ratio= 1-1.3		2.7-3.3

 

II: Determined in Hungary for cv. Dixired at first part of August, Szucs Endre.

 

Sufficient nutrient range of peaches *

Source:  Fertilizing fruit crops – Ohio cooperative extension service, Ohio state University p. 11.

 

Element	Nutrient range (%)		Element	Nutrient range (ppm)
N	2.8-3.4		Mn	35-150
P	0.20-0.30		Fe	50-150
K	1.4-2.2		B	25-50
Ca	1.8-2.4		Cu	5-10
Mg	0.31-0.40		Mo	0.5-2.0
			Zn	20-50

* Leaf samples taken between July 15 and August 15 from Mid-shoot leaves on current season’s growth in accordance with instruction provided with the plant analysis.

 

 

Peach - Leaf - Mineral analysis values

Nutrient	Average value	Critical level
	(%)
N	3.40	2.50
S	0.28
P	0.30	0.15
K	3.00	2.10
Mg	0.54	0.44
Ca	2.50	1.90
Na	0.03
	(ppm)
Fe	130
Al	130
Mn	150	120
B	43	28
Cu	12	7
Zn	50	17
Mo	0.7