AgroLiquid wants growers to get more juice for the squeeze. Comparing different programs and the varying results is the best way to see what works for citrus farmers.

Let’s look at comparing different aspects of citrus programs.

AgroLiquid Citrus Trial Brix, Yield, and Size of Fruit
This study compared two fertilizer programs:
• Grower standard: Nitrogen (180 lbs), 10-34-0 (140 lbs), Potassium (160 lbs), and Thiosulfate.
• AgroLiquid: Nitrogen (154 lbs), PrG (90 lbs), and Kalibrate (140 lbs).

Findings
• Brix: The AgroLiquid program resulted in a significantly higher Brix level (5.9) compared to the grower standard program (5.6). This shows the fruit from the AgroLiquid program had a higher sugar content, which is important for fruit quality and taste.
• Fruit size: The AgroLiquid program produced larger fruit. The combined percentage of large and jumbo-sized fruit was 65% in the AgroLiquid program, compared to 60% in the Grower standard program. Larger fruit can have an economic advantage for growers, since larger sizes usually get higher prices.
• Yield: The overall yield difference between the two programs was reported as “very small,” suggesting that both programs were comparable in terms of total fruit production.

Conclusions
The AgroLiquid program’s ability to increase Brix levels indicates improved fruit quality. Plus, the higher percentage of large and jumbo size fruit in the AgroLiquid program is an economic advantage.

The AgroLiquid program demonstrated a clear advantage in improving both the Brix level and the size of fruit. While the overall yield was similar to the grower’s standard, the improved fruit quality and the larger fruit shows the AgroLiquid program could offer growers an opportunity to increase their profits.

AgroLiquid Citrus Trial Comparing ROI GS vs AgroLiquid
This compared AgroLiquid to a grower’s standard program, specifically focusing on the ROI in a mandarin crop.
• Grower standard: This program consisted of Nitrogen (180 lbs), 10-34-0 (140 lbs), Potassium (160 lbs), and Thiosulfate.
• AgroLiquid: The AgroLiquid program used Nitrogen (154 lbs), PrG (90 lbs), and Kalibrate (140 lbs).

The goal was to evaluate the impact of each program on the profitability for the grower.

Findings:
– ROI: The AgroLiquid program generated an impressive $720 more profit per acre compared to the grower standard program.
– Savings: The AgroLiquid program saved $74.25 per acre for the grower compared to the traditional approach. This lower input cost directly contributes to a higher profit.
– Value per pound: The AgroLiquid program yielded $0.02 more per pound compared to the grower standard.
– Size: AgroLiquid produced 5% more large and jumbo fruit compared to the grower standard.

Conclusions
The results of this trial show a strong economic advantage for mandarin growers using AgroLiquid. The combination of reduced input costs and increased revenue – driven by improved fruit size and quality – can lead to an increase in profit.

AgroLiquid Citrus Trial Comparing Yield and Gross Income
This compared a grower standard fertilizer program to an AgroLiquid program where phosphorus and potassium sources were replaced with AgroLiquid’s PrG and Kalibrate in a mandarin crop. The study focused on the impact on yield and gross income per acre.

• Grower standard (GS): Nitrogen (180 lbs), 10-34-0 (140 lbs), Potassium (160 lbs), and Thiosulfate.
• AgroLiquid (AL): Nitrogen (154 lbs), PrG (90 lbs), and Kalibrate (140 lbs).

Findings
• Yield: The grower standard produced 34,762 lbs/acre, and the AgroLiquid program yielded 34,879 lbs/acre, which is very similar.
• Gross income: Despite the comparable yields, compared to the grower standard, the AgroLiquid treatment significantly increased the gross income per acre by $646. The AgroLiquid program generated a gross income of $9,578.21 per acre, and the grower standard was $8,932.12 per acre.
• Fruit size: The difference in gross income was due to the AgroLiquid program producing bigger fruit size and a greater quantity of fruit. This suggests that while the total weight of harvested fruit was similar, the AgroLiquid program yielded more valuable, larger fruit.
• Performance: The trial showed AgroLiquid PrG and Kalibrate provided better yield quality and sizing compared to the grower standard.

Conclusions
This shows that focusing only on total yield might not fully capture the financial benefits of a fertilizer program. While both programs produced a similar amount of fruit by weight, the AgroLiquid program’s fruit size added to the gross income. The $646 per acre increase is a financial advantage for growers using AgroLiquid. This trail shows that using AgroLiquid products like PrG and Kalibrate can lead to a more valuable harvest, even without a significant increase in yield.

Across this study, there’s a common theme: AgroLiquid programs offer benefits that can lead to increased profits. While the overall yield may be similar to traditional programs, AgroLiquid consistently demonstrates advantages in fruit quality, fruit size, and ROI per acre. And what does ROI translate into? A juicer squeeze.

Get started on improving your citrus crop today:

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The Best Nutrients for Citrus Crops

It’s about applying the right nutrients at the right time, says Bob Rouse, associate professor and citrus horticulturist at University of Florida IFAS. Citrus trees are most active and develop new growth the first six months of the year, so that would be the time to apply about 2/3 of nutrients applied to a crop.

“Rains always work against you,” Rouse says. “That’s another reason to get 2/3 of fertilizer out in the first half of the year. Florida’s rainy season doesn’t start until June or early July. The tree stores fertilizer nutrients really well before then.”

According to Rouse, there are four nutrients that most affect these key characteristics of citrus: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium.

To learn more about the best nutrients for citrus crops and the ideal amounts for each, take a look at the Nutrition Of Florida Citrus Trees  provided by the University of Florida Extension.

#1: Nitrogen

Of course, the number one best nutrient for citrus is nitrogen, and the amount taken up by trees can positively or negatively affect citrus fruits. Nitrogen plays an important role for many plants, and this is also true for citrus fruit trees. There is a balance between under and over application that can make the difference between a successful citrus harvest and a disappointing one. So how does nitrogen affect citrus trees?

• Adding nitrogen increases fruit juice content.
• Increases soluble solids (sugars) and increases acid slightly. Growers need to balance the increases from the sugars and the slight increase in the acid, which affects the flavor of the fruit and can lead to an acidic-tasting juice.
• Increases the juice color. Increasing solids or sugars on per box basis is what growers are paid for. “[Increasing nitrogen] will increase the sugar, so that means growers get more money,” Rouse says. “There’s a relationship there between profit and use of nitrogen.”
• Too much nitrogen can make the fruit green, preventing it from coloring up, and also makes an undesirable thicker peel.
• Too much nitrogen will make fruit puffy inside with less juice, as well.

#2: Phosphorus

Phosphorus is another important nutrient for many different plant functions. Phosphorus applied during citrus production can work to counteract too much nitrogen, and a healthy balance between them is important.

• If you exceed the recommended ranges of phosphorus, it can negatively affect the acid content, pulling it down.
• Excess phosphorus can also increase the ratio of sugars to acid, since acid is decreasing during fruit maturity.
• Phosphorus has no effect on fruit size or weight, but will make fruit stay green if over applied, as nitrogen also does.
• Phosphorus can also help to keep peel thickness to a minimum.

#3: Potassium

Potassium does have quite an effect on the external part of the fruit. This is also an important nutrient for citrus trees, and can have a number of different affects.

• Potassium can increase your fruit size and weight.
• Over application of potassium can cause the fruit to stay green and not color up at the end of the season.
• Potassium can keep the peel thickness from being too thick.
• Potassium may increase acids, but it can also increase sugars.

#4: Magnesium

Magnesium is the last nutrient that is best for citrus crops. Chlorophyll is the driving force for making sugars in fruit. The magnesium is the center of the chlorophyll molecule, so plenty of magnesium means plenty of chlorophyll.

• In addition to increasing sugars, magnesium will also increase the ratio of the amount of sugars to the amount of acid and will result in a better tasting fruit or juice. That’s the main function of magnesium.
• Externally, magnesium can increase size and weight of fruit, because you’re increasing sugar content, which results in a heavier fruit.
• Magnesium can negatively affect the peel thickness, however.

Optimizing yields for citrus trees can be complicated, as there are many different factors to consider. If you think that a nutrient deficit could be slowing down the growth, development, or yields of your citrus trees, we can help. Contact us to learn more about custom fertilizer and nutrition plans for your citrus crop.

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