INCREASING ORGANIC AVOCADO FRUIT YIELD USING A ASCOPHYLLUM NODOSUM BIOSTIMULANT AND FERTILIZATION

Research was conducted to determine the effects of a biostimulant seaweed extract and fertilizer rates fruit retention and weight of ‘Butler’ avocado.
The bio-stimulant rates evaluated were 0 (check), 2 and 4 L/ha per application, and the fertilizer treatments were the standard rate of 700 g N, 350 g P, and 700 g K per tree per year and a rate 30% higher than the standard (910 g N, 390 g P, and 910 g K/ tree/year). The seaweed extract was applied as an aqueous solution the point of run-off on the avocado canopy every two weeks, starting eight weeks prior to flowering, and ending two weeks after full flowering.
In trees receiving the standard fertilizer rate, increasing the seaweed extract rate resulted in increased fruit retention and reduced individual fruit weight.
In trees receiving the augmented fertilizer rate, increasing the seaweed extract rate increased fruit retention and individual fruit weight was statistically the same as in control trees.
These results indicate that biostimulants based on seaweed extract may increase fruit retention in ‘Butler’ avocado, and that to retain marketable fruit size additional fertilization would be necessary.

XII International Symposium on Plant Bioregulators in Fruit Production

J.P. Morales-Payan, C.D. Candelas

fruit set, fruit size

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1042.15