Response of apple and pear trees to phosphate fertilization: A compendium

Abstract

Earlier reports in the literature indicated that responses to phosphate (P) fertilization of apple and pear trees were rare. Yet more recently in orchard soils low in available P or in leaves with low P concentrations, greenhouse and orchard trials showed a marked response to applications of monoammonium phosphate (MAP) fertilization. Trees receiving MAP fertilizer frequently resulted in improved tree vigor, fruit production, and in some cases fruit quality. Our experimental trials indicated that apple and pear trees responded to soil‐surface applications of MAP fertilizer rates, but excessive usage may result in low soil pH or a high incidence of bitter pit in apples or cork spot in ‘d'Anjou’ pears.