Publication 360, Guide to Fruit Production:
Soil Management, Fertilizer Use, Crop Nutrition and Cover Crops

1. Assessing Nutrient Needs
   • Soil Testing
     · Table 3-1. OMAFRA-Accredited Soil Tests
     · Table 3-2. Soil Test Nutrient Ratings
   • Plant tissue analysis
     · Table 3-3. Sampling for Tissue Analysis of Fruit Crops
     · Table 3-4. Nutrient Concentration Sufficiency Ranges for Fruit Crops
   • Visual Deficiency Symptoms
2. Soil Organic Matter
   · Table 3-5. Optimum Soil Organic Matter Contents for a Range of Soil Type
3. Soil pH and Liming
   • Raising pH
     · Table 3-6. Soil pH at which Lime is Recommended for Ontario Field-Grown Crops
     · Table 3-7. Lime Requirements to Correct Soil Acidity Based on Soil pH and Soil Buffer pH
     · Table 3-8. Calculation of Lime Required Using Buffer pH and Target pH
   • Lowering soil pH
     · Table 3-9. Sulphur for Soil Acidification
4. Nitrogen
   • Visual nitrogen deficiency symptoms
   • Nitrogen and the environment
   • Sources of Nitrogen
     · Table 3-10. Fertilizer Materials: Primary Nutrients
     · Table 3-11. Average Fertilizer Replacement Values for Different Types of Manure
     · Table 3-12. Nitrogen Contribution of Plowed Down Legumes
5. Phosphorus
   • Visual phosphorus deficiency symptoms
   • Phosphorus in the environment
   • Sources of Phosphorus
   • Phosphorus application methods
   • Phosphorus recommendations
     · Table 3-13. Phosphorus Requirements for Berries, Tree Fruits and Grape
6. Potassium
   • Visual potassium deficiency symptoms
   • Sources of Potassium
   • Potassium Application Methods
   • Potassium Recommendations
     · Table 3-14. Potassium Requirements for Berries, Tree Fruits and Grapes
7. Calcium
   · Table 3-15. Application Rates for Magnesium, Calcium and Micronutrients
8. Magnesium
   · Table 3-16. Magnesium Soil Test Ratings and Interpretation for all Fruit Crops
9. Micronutrients
   • Which to choose: soil or foliar fertilizers?
   • Boron
   • Copper
   • Iron
   • Manganese
   • Zinc
10. Cover Crops
    • Grasses
    • Legumes
    • Non-legume broadleaves
    • New and emerging cover crops
      · Table 3-17. Selecting a Cover Crop
      · Table 3-18. Characteristics of Cover Crops
11. Chapter 3: Soil Management, Fertilizer Use and Crop Nutrition - PDF 194 kb
12. Related Links
    

For a complete guide to soil fertility, consult OMAFRA Publication 611, Soil Fertility Handbook.

Crop nutrition is important in the production of high yielding, top quality fruit crops. Nutrients must be dissolved in the soil water for root uptake. Therefore, the most efficient use of fertilizer is intricately tied to soil and water management. The development of a sound soil fertility program begins with the assessment of nutrient needs.

Related Links

• OMAFRA Publication 611, Soil Fertility Handbook
• Soil Management
• Soil Fertility & Crop Nutrition
• Soil Water Management
• Cover Crops
• Ontario Weeds Website
• OMAFRA Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control