For nature to remain stable, it must constantly change.
Our world is changing. Our world has always been changing. Today, we’re witnessing changes in technology, weather, farming practices, and countless other areas. Nature is always changing and adapting. For example, ants have evolved to have some ants stay in the colony while other leave and search for food. This isn’t in an ant’s DNA. It’s an adaptation to improve its long-term survival.
Civilizations have come and gone, and many of those civilizations that perished weren’t able to adapt. Many of the downfalls can be traced to poor agricultural practices or the inability to modify and improve agricultural practices.
So …
It’s time to re-think how we treat our perennial crops during the dormant period. Plants have a temperature memory and, likely, have already begun adapting to our changing weather patterns. But have we as growers supported the changes that nature is undertaking?
We feed our crops for approximately 6 months of the year and then place them on a starvation diet. Does this make sense? Most of our native plants continue to process nutrients during dormant or cooler/colder months. The microbiology remains alive in the soil, working and functioning but in a less robust state. As the leaves lose chlorophyll plants salvage its constituents — mainly nitrogen, magnesium and phosphates — for recycling. The nutrients are carried back from the leaves into the branches where they’re deposited in the woody parts for later access.
In the fall, plants stop sending water and minerals up to the leaves. Instead, they will use these nutrients to increase root mass, and to store up food for the winter. By fertilizing at this time of the year, you allow perennial crops to store up food as they see fit for next year’s growth. Underground, these plants are not dormant at all. The roots are very active (until the ground freezes) and will quickly grab nutrients during fertilization. You can also apply fertilizer at higher rates during this stage without fear of leaf burn or flower drop.
Like humans, soil needs to have oxygen, water, food and shelter — and not just for 6 months! It’s ridiculous to think that we can supply everything in the springtime through a “fire hose” approach and expect the plant to be able to process and utilize the nutrients in an efficient manner. It’s simply too much in too short of a period. It’s time to rethink our approach.
Cutting back on a few seasonal applications and instead taking those same applications and applying them late into the season makes more sense. Depending on the temperatures in a particular year, applications even in late December may yield more in the next season than whatever is done in the spring. Winter rains are available to translocate minerals.
Times are a-changing, and we need to get smarter about our approach to the dormancy period. Yes, dormancy is similar to a period of suspended animation — yet during this time proteins are broken down and re-made and cell membranes are created. It’s part survival mechanism, part housekeeping exercise, all meant to help plants gear up for warmer days ahead. Feeding them during this period will pay dividends in the spring and the following crop season.
Andaman Ag offers tried and tested products for post-harvest and dormancy applications.