Organic fertilization program for avocado

Avocado has one of the highest chloride sensitivities among fruit trees. Its root system is very susceptible to salt toxicity, which shows as marginal leaf necrosis, premature defoliation and reduced fruit set. Chloride supply therefore needs watching in avocado. Eight references have chloride measured below the limit of detection (< 0.05% w/w) by ion chromatography to UNE-EN 10304-1 at an ENAC-accredited laboratory. For the rest of the catalogue we publish the figure as each one is tested: organic certification does not attest to it.

The freshwater microalgae (Chlorella, Scenedesmus) Ecoganic uses as the base of its biostimulants provide amino acids and organic matter that improve tolerance to water and salt stress, one of the functions Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 recognises for plant biostimulants. Being freshwater, they do not carry the marine salts found in macroalgae extracts, which can worsen chloride toxicity in a crop that is particularly sensitive to it.

Avocado has three waves of physiological drop: post-bloom, post-set (BBCH 71-74) and mid-season. To minimise them: 1) at flowering, apply UNIVERSAL POWER and BOOST UNIVERSAL to improve fruit set; 2) at BBCH 71-74, apply CALCIUM 40 to reinforce the fruit abscission zone; 3) maintain a steady foliar boron supply through the cycle to sustain the cell wall of the pedicel.