In the pre-flowering period, nutrient uptake may be modest if at all: shoot and leaf growth occurs, predominantly, from reserve substances accumulated in woody organs during the previous autumn. Early spring fertilization is practically never sufficient in the early stages of the crop cycle, and treatments can become difficult due to not unlikely adverse weather conditions.
Postharvest fertilization is too often neglected, but it is precisely at this time that action should be taken. In postharvest, in fact, the accumulation of nutrients in the reserve organs (roots, trunk, wood) is more efficient. At vegetative resumption, the substances thus accumulated are immediately available and used for shoot formation so as to avoid poor and irregular sprouting that could lead to alternating production phenomena. It is necessary, therefore, to prevent micro-sprouting with appropriate autumn fertilization. Boron and zinc are the trace elements that play a key role in bud differentiation, are able to contribute to their nutrition in the autumn period, to promote the formation of flower organs, and to enable prompt vegetative recovery and improved flowering, and subsequent fruit set, ensuring a consistent reduction in sagging.
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