Lack of calcium in citrus crops can make citrus growers’ profitability unfeasible

Each nutrient has its importance for the good development of plants. And to obtain high productivity, careful analysis is recommended for the correct application of the element, quantity and period. This helps prevent deficiency symptoms that become visible on the leaves and, in some cases, the flowers and fruits. In citrus cultivation, for example, calcium must be applied in greater quantities and then nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus, the famous NPK.

Citrus is a calciferous plant, that is, it absorbs a high amount of calcium, which directly influences the number of fruits per plant, juice content, disease tolerance, as well as the best plant architecture and use of sunlight. The supply of calcium in soluble form at times when the plant needs it most, according to the absorption peaks of this nutrient, is an important strategy, as this is an immobile nutrient in the phloem. This management will increase the quantity of fruits per plant when applied in the pre-flowering phase. In synergy with boron, it will improve the quality and juice content of the fruits when applied in the filling stage, a phase in which potassium is also very important.

Research applied to citrus crops shows that a lack of calcium in plantations can directly impact productivity and reduce the quality of the fruit. In this context, citrus farming may face challenges especially related to serious diseases such as Greening (HLB), popularly known as amarelão, which when infected has no cure, damaging fruit development. Living with the disease is a set of management strategies and among them nutrition is of fundamental importance. To do this, the farmer must keep in mind that, through adequate nutrition and other management strategies, it is possible to produce economically viable crops even in adverse scenarios.

Bruno Dittrich, agronomic citrus specialist at Yara