Australian soils are generally not fertile enough to meet the needs of highly productive orchards. Additional nutrients are needed prior to planting and then on an annual basis in order for an orchard to maintain optimum tree growth and sustainably produce high quality fruit.

It is important that any fertiliser applications or recommendations for an intensive pear orchard are based upon knowledge of soil and tree nutrient status and local conditions.

This page will only provide a brief overview of nutritional requirements for pears and direction to further information.

Essential mineral elements

Determining nutrient needs

Fertiliser application

Further information

References

Essential mineral elements

There are a number of essential mineral elements for pear growth. The availability of these to the plant roots depends upon factors such as climate, rootstock type soil type, total nutrients in the soil, soil moisture, soil oxygen content, humus content and soil pH (see Table 1) (Westwood 1993). 

 Table 1 : pH availability range for mineral elements (Westwood 1993)

Determining nutrient needs

In order to assess nutrient requirement in orchards growers should undertake soil and leaf analysis.

Soil analysis is most useful prior to planting as the adjustment of soil pH, phosphorus and potash content is more easily done before blocks are established. It is important to plan any soil testing thoroughly as soils may not be uniform across a block.

Once trees are established leaf analysis is a useful guide to understanding the nutritional requirements of the tree. Leaf analysis can help with the diagnosis of deficiencies and provide a guide to fertiliser program development. Leaf analysis over a number of seasons can help to develop a useful management record.

See further information for more detail on soil and leaf analysis.

Choosing a fertiliser

Nutrient status can be improved through the use of both organic and inorganic fertilisers.

Organic fertilisers

Generally the nutrients in solid organic fertilisers are not available immediately to the plant. Nutrient availability depends on degradation by soil micro-organisms under favourable conditions. 

However, organic materials are important for maintaining soil structure and organic matter content of the soil over the long term. Two ways through which organic matter levels can be improved in orchards is through surface mulching and the establishment of a cover crop along the tree line in winter which is sprayed off in spring.

Inorganic fertiliser

There are numerous inorganic fertilisers available to growers. The choice of fertiliser for any situation should take into account

• soil or leaf analysis results
• soil pH
• proposed method of application
• potential of fertiliser to alter soil pH
• cost per unit of nutrient and mobility of fertiliser.

See further information for more on choosing fertilisers.

Further Information

The following sites may be useful for growers. However they are intended as an information source only. Any specific chemical or other control recommendations may be outdated or irrelevant for Australian conditions and growers should seek local advice.

Please note: By electing to visit sites linking from this page you will be leaving the intensivepear.com website.

Australian Resources

Determining nutrient needs

• Orchard nutrition 2: Soil and leaf analysis : Victorian Department of Primary Industries fact sheet (external link)
• Apple and Pear Nutrition: NSW Department of Primary Industries fact sheet (external link)

References

Westwood, M. N. (1993). Temperate Zone Pomology ; Physiology and Culture. Timber Press.  Portland