- Orchards that are in full production and, above all, with a high productive potential, must be supported with the incorporation of agents that promote root recovery to obtain optimal productive potential in the next season.
During the formation of nutritional reserves in the post-harvest stage of cherry trees (approximately 100 to 140 days after full blossom), the application of auxin-based products to the soil successfully promotes root development, according to different studies carried out by Avium. However, their use in spring does not achieve such a marked effect.
When measuring the reserves in roots, in terms of concentration, no notable differences are observed with or without treatment. What can be seen is that when applying rooting agents, a greater quantity of roots will be found, which infers a greater quantity of total reserves.
How does all this affect the harvest? The analyses to measure the impact of the use of sun protection systems and rooting agents do not provide significant differences in production, but they do reveal a significant increase in the percentage of fruit with sizes over 28 mm (56% without the treatments, versus 68% with them).
“It is important to recognize two “flushes” of root growth in the species, the first at the beginning of the season where root development begins due to the action of soil temperature, “flanked” by the beginning of shoot development and stage I of fruit development, which is why this first stage lasts approximately 30 days as other growth is unleashed based on the phenology of the species. Once fruit development is finished, the large and most important “flush” of development begins, which goes approximately between 100 and 170 DDPF, where at least 70% of the annual root recovery is recognized.
It is at this stage where it becomes essential to face a correct implementation of a nutritional recovery program, to better establish the irrigation strategy and, why not, to consider some treatments that "hormonally" promote the growth and development of the root system. said Carlos Tapia, CEO of Avium.
When it comes to orchards in full production and especially with a high productive potential recognized in the season, this process must necessarily be supported with the incorporation of agents that increase root recovery, since it will be the support of a large part of the carbon and nitrogen reserves at the beginning of the season, since in spring the initial development of roots is recognized not before 25-30 DDPF, generally responding when the soil temperature exceeds 15ºC.
The specific agents that help in this specific process are known as rooting agents; they must necessarily contain growth regulators in their composition, mainly auxins (Indolebutyric acid), which provide a direct signal to further encourage the creation of new roots and their sustained development.
Research carried out in Chile in recent seasons has shown that the use of this type of compound at this time of year enhances root development and the generation of new growth points. Although the accumulation of carbon (starch) and nitrogen reserves does not always represent a change in their concentration, with a greater development of the root system, measured by weight, it can be said that there is a greater quantity of this type of reserve in the plants. In any case, it is worth remembering that all of these processes, not only the recovery of the root system, but also the stability in terms of water flow and the prevention of stress, are strongly linked to the administration and programming of irrigation at this stage of crop development.
