Fruit size is often judged at harvest, but the real story is how the fruit grows over time.
This citrus trial followed fruit diameter from September through January to understand how a two-step program affected growth rate, not just final size.
The results show a clear difference in growth curves, not just endpoint measurements.
Trial Overview
- Crop: Citrus
- Baseline measurements: September 11, 2025
- First application: September 20, 2025 (foliar)
- Second application: December 2025 (drip-injected)
- Final measurements: January 28, 2026
Two blocks received no treatment (controls).
Two blocks received Manda Harvest, first as a foliar spray and later through the drip system.
Early Response: Foliar Application (September–October)
Within the first month after the foliar application, treated blocks began separating from the controls.
- Fruit diameter increased faster in treated trees
- Leaf analysis showed improved nutrient balance, including nitrogen, phosphorus, manganese, and iron
- Canopy color and vigor remained stronger later into the season
This phase reflects activation: improved nutrient efficiency and fruit expansion during a period when size potential is being set.
Late-Season Response: Drip Application (October–January)
Citrus fruit growth normally slows as temperatures drop and root activity declines. That slowdown was visible in the control blocks.
In contrast, fruit in the treated blocks continued expanding at a higher rate through winter.
From late October to late January:
- Control blocks gained roughly 10–12% in diameter
- Treated blocks gained roughly 16–17%
This second growth phase aligns with the December drip application, which delivered the agricultural mineral directly into the root zone.
Why the Growth Curve Matters
By late January:
- Control blocks: ~27% total diameter increase since September
- Treated blocks: ~38% total diameter increase
That’s about a 40% higher cumulative growth rate.
More importantly, the shape of the curve differed:
- Control fruit followed a normal pattern: fast early, slow late
- Treated fruit showed sustained growth, with less winter slowdown
This indicates the program did more than push early size—it extended productive growth later in the season.
What This Means for Growers
- The response was durable, not a short-term spike
- The weakest blocks showed the largest relative gains
- Nutrient data and fruit measurements told the same story
- No excess salts or imbalance were observed
Taken together, the data supports using Manda Harvest as part of a season-long program, not a one-time input.
Practical Takeaway
A foliar application can help initiate fruit growth during active canopy periods.
A follow-up drip application can help sustain root function and fruit expansion when growth normally slows.
This trial shows that timing and delivery method matter, and that combining foliar and drip applications can reshape fruit growth curves under real field conditions.
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One response
It appears Manda improves crop performance and targeting for season treatment as opposed to spot treatement makes sense. Our FARMCO product MPXA which is a proprietary humic/fulvic acid treatment that is drip irrigated several times a season may have a symbiotic relationship generating improvements to grows of avocados (proven root tip and fruit growth), strawberries, and a host of other tree and plant crops.
We would be interested in exploring some testing with Manda to see if the combination provides and even more beneficial treatment.