SOIL TEST INFORMATION SHEET NO. F-570

Prepared by Extension Horticulturist John Pyzner

Peach, Plum and Nectarines

1.	Nitrogen Fertilization (Bearing Trees)

Bearing trees should be fertilized based on foliar analysis, soil test, crop load and visual plant indicators such as terminal shoot growth and leaf color.  Rates and timing will vary with variety, soil type, crop load, pruning severity and tree vigor to obtain annual terminal shoot growth of 18 to 24 inches with a normal crop load.  As a general guideline, trees should be fertilized as follows:

a.	Late January to mid-February (month before bud break)- Apply 30 to 60 pounds of nitrogen per acre (.30-.60 pounds per tree for mature and or bearing trees) in the herbicide band.  Earlier timing is for south Louisiana. 

b.	Post harvest (but no later than early September)- Apply 20 to 50 pounds of nitrogen per acre (.20-.50 pounds per tree for mature and or bearing trees) in the herbicide band.  Earlier timing is for earlier varieties.  If mid to late season leaf color and shoot growth on bearing trees indicate that trees are low in nitrogen, apply the post harvest nitrogen immediately after harvest.

2.	Special Lime Recommendations

If more than two tons of limestone per acre are recommended, apply half this year and the other half next year.  Avoid, when possible, applying lime when fruit or foliage is on the tree.  Late fall is the most ideal time to lime.  If soil test magnesium is not low and a faster reaction is desired, apply a fast reacting lime source such as hydrated lime.  The conversion rate for hydrated lime follows:

Lime Recommendation		Alternate Lime Source	
Dolomitic Limestone	Pounds Dolomitic	Hydrated Lime*	
tons/A	Per tree	tons/A	
1	0.5	0.75	
2	1.0	1.50	
*Since hydrated lime is quite fine, it would be applied with an Easy Flor or similar application.

3.	Nitrogen Fertilization (Non-Bearing)
First-year trees should be fertilized three times during their first season as follows:
1)	March- (after ground has been settled by rain), broadcast evenly over a 3-feet diameter circle, 1\2 to 1 pound of 10-10-10 per tree.  Avoid placing fertilizer near trunk.  
2)	Mid to late May- broadcast evenly over a 3-foot diameter circle 1 pound of calcium nitrate or 1\2 pound ammonium nitrate per tree.
3)	Early to mid July- repeat application as made in May.  Do not apply after August 1 since a late application can increase susceptibility to cold injury.
Second-year trees should be fertilized three times during the season.
1)	Late February (month before growth starts)- apply 250 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per orchard acre, broadcast evenly in a 5 to 6 feet wide band (2 to 3 feet wide on each side of tree),
2)	Mid May- apply 150 pounds of calcium nitrate or 75 pounds of ammonium nitrate per orchard acre in a 5 to 6 feet wide band.
3)	Early to mid July- repeat application as made in May.  Do not apply after August 1.
4.	Special Lime Recommendations
Proper soil ph (6.0-6.5) is one of the keys to increasing tree survival and maximizing production.  Because lime does not readily move down through undisturbed soil, preplant soil preparation is the key to deriving the benefits of liming.  Sites should be subsoiled in two directions (cross checked) and lime should be returned in with deep plowing.  Such preplant site preparation helps trees develop a large root system throughout the desired planting area.

Soil pH		Recommendation, tons/A	
			Broadcast and	
Surface	Subsoil		Plowed Deep	Disk In	
Below 5.5	Below 5.5		3	1	
5.5-6.0	Below 5.5		2	1	
5.5-6.0	5.5-6.0		1	1	
5.5-6.0	6.0-+		0	1	
6.0-+	Below 5.5		2	0	
6.0-+	5.5-6.0		1	0	
6.0-+	6.0-+		0	0	
6.0-+ but soil Cal less than 400 lbs/A	0	1	

5.	Contact your county agent for additional information and help in your fertilization program.  The agent also receives a copy of this report for the parish office files.