Fish emulsion fertilizer for citrus

Discussion in 'Soils, Fertilizers and Composting' started by blackmountain, Jun 14, 2009.

  1. blackmountain

    blackmountain Member

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    Hi, my son just planted a Valencia orange tree. It's aboput 30 inches tall. Can we use fish emulsion to fertilize it and how often would we use it? Our soil here in southern Arizona is not good. Thanks very much for advice!
     
  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Not sure how it would be for the orange, but fish emulsion is very harmful (lethal) to fish and their environment. Best not used.
     
  3. blackmountain

    blackmountain Member

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    Thanks for your reply. We try to live as green as we can and didn't know that. Even here in Tucson, miles and miles from any wild fish, it would eventually get to them. Thanks again. Howard
     
  4. Millet

    Millet Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Fish emulsion can be used on citrus, however, because fish emulsion is an oil, it must be sprayed early in the morning, or just before dusk, ESPECIALLY in a hot location like Arizona. Never ever spray any type of oil on a citrus tree during the heat of the day, as it will cause a lot of foliage damage. I would not worry much about the killing of fish because of fish emulsion. Fish emulsion is made from the left over scrap portions of fish that are caught by the fishing industry. The main eatable portions are, of course, sold into the food market. Not using fish emulsion because it would kill a fish, is like saying do not barbecue a steak because it would kill a cow, or don't eat pork because it is harmful to pigs. However, all that aside, in the case of citrus, fish emulsion is a poor substitute for what a citrus tree requires. Citrus are VERY HEAVY feeders, and require a LOT of nutrition to preform well, and produce a successful crop. The normal nutrition program for all young citrus trees is applying either a 6-6-6- or an 8-8-8 fertilizer six times a season. Never use a fertilizer stronger than 8 percent nitrogen on a citrus tree younger than 4 years old. In Arizona, a citrus tree should be fertilized for the first time starting the 1st of March, with 6 equally spaced applications until the end of August. Do not fertilize citrus during the fall and winter months. It is your tree, and you certainly can cultivate the tree in any manner that you wish. However, without the required nutrition, your tree will not produce as you would hope. As you are new to citrus, you can learn a lot by reading in the citrus forum on this web site. Take care, and the very best of luck to this tree. - Millet (1,315-)
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2009
  5. blackmountain

    blackmountain Member

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    Thanks, Millet, that was very complete and answered just about every question I've been thinking. Especially what and how often. Your reply is greatly appreciated!
     
  6. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    It's not that 'it gets to them', it's that they are killed to make it . . . google "industrial fishing" and read about the immense destruction it is doing to the marine environment - collapse in fish populations, seabird populations, etc., etc.

    Example:
    One of the main impacts associated with industrial fishing is the removal of large quantities of species from the base of the food chain. For example the sandeel fishery in the North Sea, the largest single-species fishery in the area accounting for over 50% by weight of total fish landings, has been implicated in the decline of breeding success in seabirds such as kittiwakes, and reducing food availability for marine mammals and other commercial fish species such as cod and haddock. - http://www.fishonline.org/caught_at_sea/methods/


     
  7. Millet

    Millet Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    duplicate
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2009
  8. Millet

    Millet Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Michael, not convinced to stop eating fish. Mankind will always and forever eat fish. However, much of the fish eaten today is actually farm raised. Have a nice week.- Millet (1,315-)
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2009
  9. chimera

    chimera Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    There are so many types of fishing it's hard for the public to distinguish between them. Industrial fishing is targetting fish used for reduction, not human food, to make fertilizers and fish pellets to feed farmed fish. Fish emulsion can also be made from the waste of fish caught in sustainable fisheries. Salmon farming has been very disastrous for native wild fish stocks with the introduction of diseases spread by sea lice worldwide, Scotland, Norway, Chile and Atlantic Canada. Just consider Chile , when eating farmed salmon www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ1Tdo1nHLs&feature=channel . Expect the same multinational Norwegian companies operating in Chile are contributing to the decline of some wild salmon stocks and other sea life near the farms here in BC ,with the farms associated sea lice problems, possible introduction of disease, pollution and use of pesticides. Here are some of the problems being experienced with BC wild salmon www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbOnbrZxGWo . The young fish, with no developed scales, cannot withstand so many sea lice and don't survive long. Imagine a sea lice spread disease that can spread 2000 kilometres {1200 miles} in less than a year killing wild native fish as well as the farmed salmon.
     
    Last edited: Jul 10, 2009
  10. Millet

    Millet Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    Chirmera, very informative post. Thanks for all the information. - Millet (1,313-)
     

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