Pg. 10 Blaarontledings by Lietsjies

Vir die korrekte bemesting van die lietsjieboom is dit noodsaaklik om sy voedingsvereistes en die beskikbaarheid van plantvoedingstowwe in die grond in aanmerking te neem. Slegs daardie voedingstowwe wat nodig is om ‘n hoe vrugteproduksie van goeie gehalte te verseker, word toegedien.
Blaarontledings is die enigste tegniek waarmee die ideaal van optimale bemesting vir ‘n besondere aanplanting bereik kan word. Die gebruik van grondontledings help aansienlik om nog betroubaarder aanbevelings te maak.

Summary:

• Correct fertilization of litchi trees requires understanding their nutritional needs and the availability of nutrients in the soil.
• Only nutrients necessary for high-quality fruit production should be applied.
• Leaf analysis is the only technique to achieve optimal fertilization for a specific orchard.
• Soil analyses complement leaf analyses to provide more reliable recommendations.
• Leaf analysis determines the concentration of elements that may be deficient or excessive.
• Nutritional status can be accurately assessed only if other limiting factors such as climate, irrigation water, and soil quality (depth, drainage, pH, salinity) are optimal.
• Proper orchard management practices including pest, disease, and weed control must also be followed.
• Leaf sampling timing is crucial; samples taken outside the recommended period are not useful for fertilization guidance.
• The correct sampling period is the first half of November.
• Sampling from the correct type of leaf is important because leaf composition varies widely.
• Initial leaf samples should be accompanied by soil samples; thereafter, soil analyses every three years are likely sufficient.
• Only leaves from healthy trees, free of sunburn, disease, insect damage, and deficiency symptoms should be sampled.
• Leaf and soil samples should represent an area of not more than approximately 3 hectares; if soil types vary, separate samples must be taken.
• About 20 healthy trees evenly distributed across the orchard should be sampled, with four leaves taken per tree, avoiding unusually good or poor trees.
• Adhering to these guidelines allows the correlation of leaf analysis results with optimal leaf nutrient norms and soil nutrient reserves.
• Effective fertilization programs require full information from previous programs and are best established by analyzing leaf samples annually for at least five years.
• Annual leaf analysis enables early detection of nutrient deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances, allowing gradual correction over multiple seasons.