Comments on: Seminar Field Day – Boosting Avocados

By: P.Quinn

P.Quinn — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:25:31 +0000

I am very interested in any advance of Avocado production sustainable farming, do u have any more available data ?

By: Leonard

Leonard — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:12:59 +0000

Phillipa: Thanks a lot for your advise, I will follow your considerations regarding –Thricoderma fungi + when the time comes Boron applications based on leaf & soil test

Thanks again

By: Philippa Davis

Philippa Davis — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:14:37 +0000

Hi Len,
Thank you for your message. Have you previously followed your intended planting program? The issue with a planting treatment which contains a range of biocidal materials are the effects on beneficial soil biology. These beneficial bacteria and fungi are responsible for such key tasks as nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilising, nutrient recycling, carbon stabilisation and, all importantly, disease suppression. Whilst the biocidal materials will reduce pathogenic numbers it will also knock out these beneficials, and it is often the disease causing organisms that are the first to return. Levels of the beneficial biology normally responsible for suppressing these pathogens, in healthy systems, will be severely reduced and hence disease pressure will be higher once the pathogenic organisms have spread back into the root zone.

When planting it is critical to introduce beneficial biology, such as Trichoderma fungi which are well known for their predatory properties. This organism can be inexpensively brewed to dramatically increase numbers. The trees should be dipped in this fungal brew just prior to planting and the application repeated with follow up ground applications.

Avocados are a particularly boron-hungry crop and inadequate levels are closely linked to reduced fruit-set and increased fruit drop. It is critical to monitor boron levels, particularly via a leaf analysis prior to flowering. It has been suggested that excessive use of ground-applied boron fertilisers can promote infection by Phytophthora. It is therefore important to combine the use of soil and leaf tests to ensure an optimum supplementation program is implemented.

By: Leonard

Leonard — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 02:40:14 +0000

Excellent topics for Avocado growers, we are located in Central America (Nicaragua), and we are beginning to plant avocados, we are in the process of land preparation, and we pour in each hole where the grafted avocados will be planted, the following:

a) Foskal (Liquid Phosporus source 90% effectiveness in drench) + 18-46-00 formula
b) Amonium sulfate + Mo enzime (Molibden + enzime to boost nitrogen intake)
c) 2 or 3 ounces per hole of earthworm manure
d) Vanodyne Fam (Fungicide, bactericide, desinfectant)
e) Fungicide to prevent Phytophthora (Curzate M 72WP or Equation Pro – cymoxanil + famoxadona)

We have loamy – sandy soil, with several years under no tillage.

We would like to have more information about: Boron & Phytophthora.

Regards

Len