Soil conditions

Poor soil conditions can contribute to low-calcium fruit; factors to consider are explained in Table 1-10. Water stress caused by either excessive or deficient soil moisture can contribute to increases in corking and bitter pit. Tiling to remove excessive moisture and irrigation to supply supplemental water should be practiced as appropriate.

Correcting low soil pH with agricultural limestone is recommended to reduce the availability of soil aluminum and manganese, thereby maximizing the size of the root system. The magnesium content of the lime should be regulated by the tree's requirement for magnesium and the total amount of lime needed. High-magnesium (dolomitic) lime should not be used for routine soil pH correction. High-magnesium lime should be used when a soil test indicates the need for lime and a leaf analysis indicates the need for a large amount of magnesium.