Managing Different Orchard Blocks
Keep in mind that if you have several blocks of fruit trees that vary in tree size and spacing, then your dilute volume, your concentrate volume, and your concentration factor probably vary from block to block. You might need to adjust your application accordingly from block to block. The calculations should also be re-done periodically as trees grow from year to year.
Seasonal Adjustments
During the growing season, the tree canopy changes from a relatively thin canopy during the dormant and delayed dormant periods in the spring, to a moderately thick canopy by petal-fall, to a maximum density after terminal shoots are fully developed by midsummer. Thorough coverage is more difficult to achieve when the canopy is thick. The dilute volume and concentrate volume required can be adjusted to allow for these canopy changes if the grower notices that one all-purpose volume is not always adequate.
Recommendation
Be sure to evaluate fruit quality on the packing line after harvest. If the grower's spray program is not adequately controlling all insect and disease problems, then spray rates and volumes are factors that the grower should re-evaluate for the following year.
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