Fertilization of pears: Haifa's complete recommendation

From recommended rates of nutrients and fertilizers to base dressing recommendations – Haifa's fertilization program covers it all

Countries: Benelux & Germany.
Soil type: Sandy loam- clay.
Plant population: 3000 trees/Ha.
Expected yield: 40 T/Ha.

 

 

 

Recommended average rates of nutrients

(The fertilization program should be adapted according to soil analysis.)

 

N	P2O5	K2O
---------------Kg/Ha--------------
75-100	30-50	150-200

 

 

 

 

Base-Dressing

 

Nutrient demand			Recommended fertilizers
N	P2O5	K2O	CAN	TSP	KCl or Patentkali
50	30	80	200	100	200-300

 

 

Side dressing

 

	Nutrient demand			Recommended fertilizers
	N	P2O5	K2O	Multi-KMg
Growth stages	Kg/Ha			Kg/Ha
6 weeks after flowering	25	0	80	200

 

Foliar feeding program

Stage	Dose rate (Kg/Ha)	No. of applications	Remarks
March	Multi-K: 5-10	2	To improve bud quality
June - August	Multi-K: 5-10	6
6 weeks after flowering	MAP/ MKP: 5-10	3-4	Till harvest
Post blossom	Magnisal: 2.5-5	3-4	Till harvest
After harvest	MAP: 5-10	2	To build up reserves

 

 

General remarks:

1. Final rate and number of applications should be determined according to leaf analysis.
2. MAP or MKP should be selected according to N level in leaf analysis.
3. Do not spray fertilizers 2-3 weeks after flowering to avoid scorching problems.

 

 

 

Fertilization of pears in Spain

Soil type: light to medium, good drainage, pH 6.5 - 8.
Annual irrigation rate: ~6,000 m3/ha.
Plant population: 400-600 plants/ha.
Expected yield: 45 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	15	10	20	0	44	16	22	0
April	20	15	30	5	65	25	14	32
May	32	20	40	5	87	33	0	32
June	35	10	40	10	87	16	45	63
July	20	5	35	10	76	8	7	63
August	6	0	5	8	11	0	0	51
September	6	5	5	5	11	8	0	32
October	10	5	10	0	22	8	18	0
Total annual	140	70	185	55	520	114	106	273

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)

 

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

 

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

 

 

Foliar feeding

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.

 

Recommended rates of major nutrients (% of dry weight)

 

N	P	K	Mg	Mn
1.4-2.0	0.12	1.2-1.3	0.30-0.35	30-50 ppm

 

 

Plant analysis guide

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

 

Pears	N	S	P	K	Mg	Ca	Na	B	Zn	Mn	Fe	Cu	Al	Mo
	------------------ % -------------------							---------- p.p.m -----------
From	2.00	0.15	0.15	1.25	0.25	1.30	0.01	25	25	30	60	10
To	3.00	0.40	0.50	2.25	0.50	2.00	0.15	70	50	100	150	25

 

 

 

 

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

 

Pears – Mineral foliar analysis values

 

Nutrient	Average value	Critical level
	(%)
N	2.40
S
P	0.25
K	2.00
Mg	0.60
Ca	1.90
Na
	(ppm)
Fe
Al
Mn
B	47
Cu	40
Zn	60
Mo

 

 

Base dressing recommendations (kg/hectare)

 

N	P2O5	K2O	CaO	MgO
63	99	45	60	20

 

 

Source: recommendations of Agro-Nutrientes Especiales (ANE). (February,2000)

 

 

 

Breaking winter dormancy

The saving resulting from combining Multi-K with Dormex for breaking winter dormancy can come to $US 550 /Ha, as illustrated below.

 

 

Treatment details	Spraying costs of 5% Alzodef. (Dormex)	Spraying costs of 2% Alzodef (Dormex) + 6% Multi-K
1,000 Liter/ha with 0.025% surfactant	app. 1000 $US/Ha	app. 450 $US/Ha

 

Need more information about growing pears? You can always return to the pear fertilizer .