Jujube fruit cracking refers to the phenomenon where the skin or even the flesh of the fruit cracks, resulting in poor appearance and making the fruit susceptible to invasion by external microorganisms, leading to rotting. This significantly affects the economic benefits of jujube cultivation, hence the importance of effective prevention and treatment measures. So, how can we prevent and treat jujube fruit cracking? Let's find out below.
Methods to Prevent and Treat Jujube Fruit Cracking
-
Use crack-resistant varieties: When planting jujube trees, choose varieties with early maturity, capable of avoiding local prolonged rainy seasons, and with thick skins to resist cracking.
-
Prune properly: Prune and thin out excess jujube branches, increase inter-layer spacing, and widen the angles between main and lateral branches. This improves ventilation and light conditions within the canopy, facilitating rapid drying of jujube fruits after rain and reducing the occurrence of fruit cracking.
-
Apply straw mulch: Cover the area around the jujube tree roots with a layer of crushed straw about 10-20 centimeters thick. This promotes the proliferation of microorganisms in the soil, activates calcium elements in the soil, and helps maintain soil moisture, keeping it consistently moist.
-
Timely irrigation: Irrigate promptly after fruit setting to promote normal fruit development and prevent fruit cracking caused by drought followed by rain.
-
Use hormone spraying: Apply hormones via spraying to advance or delay the maturity period of jujube fruits, thus avoiding the rainy season during fruit ripening.
-
Implement rain avoidance cultivation: Rain during the ripening period is the main external factor causing fruit cracking. Preventing rainwater from falling on the trees by using suitable coverings, such as rain shelters, can help prevent cracking.
-
Field management: During the peak fruiting period, irrigate generously, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers appropriately, and plant jujube trees in well-ventilated, sunny, clayey soil to ensure coordinated growth of fruit flesh and skin, thus avoiding cracking.
These are the methods for preventing and treating jujube fruit cracking. In summary, it is essential for growers to pay attention to field management practices to effectively prevent jujube fruit cracking.
