Market Farming

["William H Shoemaker" <wshoemak AT illinois.edu>]

Unless they are legumes, like locust, fruit trees do not produce their own nitrogen. They do not have mechanisms for converting atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia or nitrate. They do need nitrogen as an essential element so the compost must be a relatively reliable source of nitrogen to keep the fruit tree healthy.

 

Bill

William H. Shoemaker

Sr. Research Specialist, Food Crops

University of Illinois - Crop Sciences

St Charles Horticulture Research Center

535 Randall Road, St Charles, IL, 60174

630-584-7254, FAX-584-4610

wshoemak AT illinois.edu

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Carey Reams said fruit trees make 50% of their own nitrogen so they

don't need as much N as the university says.  They need P and Calcium

which are made available by fungi, especially micorrhyza, and fungi

do not like N, they thrive in high carb.  Think of a forest soil; leaves and

branches layered.  Not green manure cover crops.