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University of California Cooperative Extension Ventura County
669 County Square Drive, Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: 805.645.1451
Fax: 805.645.1474
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The office will be closed for the following holidays:
November 28-29 - Thanksgiving Holiday
December 24-25 - Christmas Holiday
December 31 - January 1 - New Year Holiday
Avocado Nutrient Defieiency
Deficiencies may be caused by:
- lack of nutrients in the soil
- adverse soil pH (acid/alkali balance), which can disrupt root absorption of nutrients
- nutrient imbalances in the soil, which also can disrupt balanced absorption of nutrients by the plant.
Santa Maria soils are notoriously nutrient deficient. Soil pHs also tend to be slightly alkaline (7.1 - 7.3). Avocados need a slightly acid soil pH (5.5 - 6.5 is most favorable) to be able to absorb nutrients efficiently.
To improve the health of your avocado tree, I would suggest the following:
Get a soil test. You want to know a) pH and b) total salts, i.e., EC.
Mulch the root zone of the tree. Place a two-to-three inch layer of coarse mulch (wood chips, bark) out to the drip line of the tree. Also allow all leaf litter to remain as mulch under the tree. Grass clippings may also be added or mixed into the mulch layer.
Use a foliar nutrient formulation to treat the manganese/zinc deficiency. This formulation should be sprayed on the leaves at monthly intervals. The tree should start to respond in 10 -14 days.
Fertilize the tree as usual with a citrus/avocado fertilizer formulation.
Maintain adequate watering schedules. Do not over-water. Avocados do not tolerate wet feet.