Fertigation in Olive Plantations
Apparently the olive tree was domesticated in the eastern Mediterranean where it was grown already 5,500 years ago. This species is perfectly adapted to the climate of the region, so that it was grown on drylands for thousands of years.
This adaptation is thanks to the tree’s ability to explore large volumes of soil, with its roots reaching dozens of meters into the soil and growing horizontally far beyond its canopy.
The importance of Phosphorus for plants
Phosphorus, both as a plant macro-nutrient and as a component of plant protection products is widely used in agriculture. The chemical formula of phosphorus and its concentration in each fertilizer and plant protection product is clearly defined on its label. However frequently, the terminology used confuses and misleads the consumer. Sometimes, in printed articles and commercial flyers, erroneous concepts are used regarding the form of phosphorus, or its concentration in the commercial product. This may be due to neglect, lack of understanding or intentional misleading for commercial reasons.
Effect of zinc fertilizer on the yield and quality of citrus fruit
Zinc is one of the micro-elements whose deficiency prevails in Israeli citrus orchards. Zinc deficiency may affect yield by inducing shedding of flowers, leaves and fruit, as well as lowering their quality (9). Similar to the deficiency of other micro-nutrients, Zinc deficiency is enhanced by high soil pH, reducing its absorption by the plant’s roots. Zinc availability is lower in basic soils where it precipitates as a salt of low solubility, is adsorbed by Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3), and fixated on silicates on the surface of clay particles (1,2). The application of Zinc chelates to the soil prevents its precipitation and fixation, increases its concentration in the soil solution, enhances its mobility, thus increasing its availability to the plant’s roots.