Senior agronomist Steve Lehmann provides his top tips to reduce abiotic stress in citrus trees throughout South Australia’s Riverland region.
Senior horticultural agronomist Steve Lehmann has worked with Elders since 2008, and has over three decades of industry experience. Based in Loxton, South Australia, Steve prides himself on adding value and increasing production for his clients who grow fruits or vegetables, in turn improving their profitability.
Day to day, Steve works closely with clients, collecting and analysing crop samples or soils, mitigating risks for a crop, managing pests and diseases, or providing more general technical advice.
Over the past two years, Steve has begun recommending and using Miller-Flo, a bio stimulant product, on his clients’ citrus crops.
Steve explained that Miller-Flo, which is comprised of a combination of amino acids and seaweed extract, can be used as a stress recovery option when concurrently using gibberellic acid.
“When using gibberellic acid it is always important to try and reduce abiotic stress. By adding Miller-Flo to the tank mix, we can improve fruit quality and reduce albedo breakdown, which causes creasing on the fruit,” Steve said.
“It will help improve the citrus trees’ tolerance to stress and accelerate plant recovery along with promoting plant vegetive growth.”
South Australia’s Riverland region boasts a model climate for citrus growers, with its normal weather patterns consisting of long, hot summers, averaging 33 degrees, and cold winters, averaging 16 degrees, with a few frosts in the winter months. Although the cold temperatures can breed fantastic colour in citrus, the higher temperatures of the summer months can have a negative effect on a tree by impeding tree vegetive growth. Steve said that is why using Miller-Flo on Riverland citrus is a great fit.
“My Riverland citrus growers have commonly gone out with two litres of Miller-Flo per hectare, which has proven to be an affordable and beneficial dose to accelerate recovery and improve tolerance from stress,” Steve said.
Steve’s use of Miller-Flo for his clients’ citrus crops is just one example of an adaptive, tailored strategy that Elders agronomists can provide. Contact your local Elders agronomist for advice suited to your unique circumstances.
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