With the apple growing season now over, many growers are using the quieter period to look ahead to next year, and plan their nutritional management strategy, to avoid deficiencies and disorders.

The reduction of bitter pit is crucial, and while advances in storage technology have delivered a longer season and improved fruit performance, they cannot completely prevent storage disorders caused by nutritional deficits, so it’s important to develop a strategy to minimise this risk.

And to help reduce the chance of deficiencies, ICL has invested heavily in research to examine the precise nutritional requirements of fruit trees at strategic points during the season.

Following many years of trials and testing, Agroleaf Liquid Calcium+, has been proven to reduce bitter pit in susceptible dessert and culinary apple varieties, thanks to the specially designed amino acid package, teamed with plant sugars and a penetrating surfactant.

Trials hosted by FAST LLP, at Brogdale Orchard, demonstrated significant reduction in bitter pit, with both full and reduced rate applications. The increase in quality far outweighed the cost of waste fruit generated during expensive storage periods. 

At pollination, calcium and boron are both needed to help develop pollen tubes and facilitate better pollination. And as demonstrated in the trials, Agroleaf Liquid Calcium+ will benefit orchards at this key time in the season, adding value and reducing wastage therefore improving profitability.

And in the longer term, the use of a liquid calcium and boron product will reduce expenses further down the chain.

With the cost of power in storage set to increase in the next few years, well planned out storage efficiency strategies will become paramount in making apples pay, with the reduction of wasted fruit being a key part of this.