and peaches can be divided into two distinctly different
programs: (1) soil management for tree-row middles and
(2) soil management under the drip area trees.
Soil management for tree-row middles.Maintain a
permanent sod cover, of tall or hard fescue and their
combinations, in tree-row middles of apples and peaches
as well. Tree-row middles in both apples and peaches
should be kept adequately limed (to maintain a pH of 6.0-
6.5) and fertilized to provide for good growth of
permanent sod or cover crop and provide adequate calcium
levels.

Soil management under drip area of fruit trees.
Keep soil areas under trees as free of vegetation as possible
to eliminate weed competition with the trees for moisture
and nutrients. This is the area from which the trees derive
most of their water and nutrient requirements for growth
and production. Adequate lime and fertilizer should be
provided in this area based on the results of soil and plant
analyses. See Tables for lime and fertilizer
recommendations based on soil test results.

Table 3.1. Soil Test Interpretations and Recommendations Based on Soil Test Results

Very low

Low

Medium

High

Very high

<50

50-75

75-100

100

100

Large applications for soil building purposes.

Annual application to produce maximum response and increased soil fertility.

Normal annual application to produce maximum yields.

Small applications to maintain soil level. Amount suggested may be doubled and
applied in alternate years.

None until level drops back into high range. This rating permits growers, without
risk of loss in yields, to benefit economically from high levels added in prevous
years. Where no P or K is applied, oils may be resampled in 2 years.

Table 3.2. Nutrient Recommendations for Preparing Soils for New Tree Plantings and Maintaining
Orchard Middles for Tree Fruit Production¹

Apple, peach and other tree fruits:

Cover crops at seeding time:
Legume-grass mixtures
Grasses only

Topdressing sod crops:
Legume-grass mixtures
Grasses only

20-30
25-50

0
20-30

100
100

100
75

50
50

50
50

25
25

25
25

0
0

0
0

100
100

100
75

50
50

50
50

25
25

25
25

0
0

0
0

1_{Sod crops growing in orchard middles should be fertilized biannually in October or November where an individual tree fertilization program is being}
followed as suggested in Table 9. Sod crops in orchard middles usually will not need fertilizing if a broadcast fertilization program is being followed
that covers the entire orchard area.

16

1998 New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide