The nutrient requirements of fruit crops (with the exception of herbaceous plants
like strawberries)
differ from those of ornamental plants and vegetables in several key aspects:
- Typically, only the fruits are removed
from the orchard; the plant growth, dropped fruits, leaves,
and pruned wood remain within the system. The nutrients taken up and those returned have
different turnover rates.
- Tree fruits are planted in rows kept
free of vegetation. Between the rows, there is a grass strip
that is maintained and covers about 60% of the area. This grass strip must therefore be
considered in the overall nutrient balance of the orchard.
