I. Background Information A nitrogen budget accounts for all N inputs and outputs on the farm. Mostly, N is removed from the farm in the crop and comes back in the form of compost, irrigation water, cover crop, and fertilizer. In well managed orchards nitrogen deficiency is rare.
Most farmers apply plenty of nitrogen fertilizer.
Many farmers also have the opportunity to reduce costs, keep good yields, and increase tree health by reducing application rates of N fertilizer. In university experiments with deciduous nut trees, labeled N applied post harvest was not absorbed by the tree. Even the following spring, N applied the previous fall was gone and no N could be found in the tree's wood, roots, leaves, or nuts. N applied in spring and summer was found in the tree. However, this does not mean that fertilization can be skipped for 5 years in your orchard, although it is possible in some cases.