Correcting iron deficiency of peach trees

Abstract

Peach (Prunus persica) trees grown in soil of 8.1 pH and with poor water drainage were treated with various rates of FeSO₄ to overcome iron chlorosis. Two methods to reduce iron deficiency consisted of: 1) limb scoring, 2) tree injection.

The limb scoring technique included scoring tree scaffolds with a saw and treating the cuts with 12–24% (w:w) ferrous sulfate solutions. Tree injection technique included the popular pressure injection, with 0.5–2.0% ferrous sulfate solutions.

The benefits from the limb scoring method only lasted half of a season, therefore retreatments were necessary, while tree injection would only be required every two years.

Results of two years of experimentation demonstrated that the treatments significantly regreened the trees, enhanced bloom, regenerated vegetative growth, increased fruit set, and improved the yield. Fruit quality (i.e. size, color, and total soluble solids) was also significantly improved. Leaf analysis showed treated trees had significantly more Ca but significantly less P and K than the control.

Correcting iron chlorosis by the limb score method was unsuccessful on plums, prunes, and Asian pears.

Key words:

• Prunus persica
• iron
• tree injection