As growers know, perfect post-harvest pruning of kiwifruit vines, or getting as close to perfection as possible, is vital to prepare for the new season. Vine leaf fall plays a vital role in this.
Rapid Senescence provides environmentally friendly, pre-pruning performance
As growers know, perfect post-harvest pruning of kiwifruit vines, or getting as close to perfection as possible, is vital to prepare for the new season.
Effective pruning is an important determinator of yield and ongoing vine health. One benefit is the opening up of vines, which allows bees to reach flowers in the following season and consequently, boosts pollination. Pruning also allows the sun to penetrate the vines, reducing the vines’ susceptibility to diseases and providing the light needed to optimise fruit ripening.
Canes being tied down immediately after pruning helps to provide a consistent, managed canopy for the important summer period. What stands between pruning, and the knock-effect that can delay cane tie-down, is the timing of vine leaf fall.
New tool available - Rapid Senescence
In most orchards copper sulphate and citric acid are used to defoliate kiwifruit vines in a way that help manage timing and vine health. This season, for the first time, there’s a new tool available that supports the application of copper sulphate and helps protect soil health around the vines.
Rapid Senescence is a unique adjuvant from sustainable horticulture solutions provider UPL NZ Ltd. When used with post-harvest sprays, it means leaf drop is faster, more consistent, and more predictable. Then, from there, pruning and tie-down can be managed efficiently, and the workforce’s valuable time is optimised.
Pieter Van Der Westhuizen, UPL NZ Ltd Adjuvant Lead and Regional Manager Upper North Island, says when applying copper and citric acid it’s vital that they are delivered to the leaves effectively. “Rapid Senescence gives some certainty and, importantly, it also tackles environmental issues around copper. It’s a breakthrough! Leaves will typically drop in 5 days, which helps planning.”
Cutting down copper use
Pieter says that the industry is concerned about copper build up in the soil. An excess can impact soil health and soil microbes as well as affect the availability of other nutrients. “Using Rapid Senescence means copper can be sprayed at significantly lower levels to achieve the same result.”
Rapid Senescence means copper can be effectively sprayed at 450 g per 100 L as opposed to the conventional 600 g per 100 L.
Pieter says adjuvants such as Rapid Senescence bring control, accountability, reduced waste, and quantifiable savings on fuel, water and labour.” He says on top of that, the environmental benefits are increasingly important to growers and are demanded by consumers.
“Basically, adjuvants help you do the job better. Budgets are tight, and people are looking for more effective ways to control pests and weeds. Adjuvants wring every last cent of value out of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. They provide a great return on investment.”
Learn more about Rapid Senescence and accelerated leaf drop here.
