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Copy link Avocado Trial with Agroblen in Mexico
yield increase
Michoacan, Periban, Mexico
yield increase
Key Conclusions
- Trend for higher yield, as average, for treatments with Agroblen vs conventional fertilizer
- Agroblen improved overall NUE
- A light incorporation of Agroblen around the tree might prevent run-off losses and increase efficiency
Objective
Evaluate avocado yield under field conditions using Agroblen and compare its performance with the conventional fertilizer program currently used by the grower.
Trial Details
Treatments
The trial was conducted in Peribán, Michoacán (Mexico) from August 2016 to February 2019 using a completely randomized block design with four repetitions. Each plot contained 20 avocado ‘Hass’ trees, with six trees per plot selected for measurement. Fertilizers were applied twice per year, and yield was recorded across five harvest periods. Three treatments were evaluated: T1, Agroblen with 40% coated N and 40% coated K applied at a reduced nutrient rate (–15% N and K); T2, Agroblen with 40% coated N applied at a reduced nitrogen rate (–15% N); and T3, the grower’s conventional fertilizer program used as the reference.
Treatments
The trial was conducted in Peribán, Michoacán (Mexico) from August 2016 to February 2019 using a completely randomized block design with four repetitions. Each plot contained 20 avocado ‘Hass’ trees, with six trees per plot selected for measurement. Fertilizers were applied twice per year, and yield was recorded across five harvest periods. Three treatments were evaluated: T1, Agroblen with 40% coated N and 40% coated K applied at a reduced nutrient rate (–15% N and K); T2, Agroblen with 40% coated N applied at a reduced nitrogen rate (–15% N); and T3, the grower’s conventional fertilizer program used as the reference.
Results
Across five harvest periods, both Agroblen treatments delivered higher avocado yields compared to the grower’s conventional fertilizer program. The treatment with 40% coated N and 40% coated K achieved a 10% yield increase, reaching 22.41 MT/ha/year, while the treatment with 40% coated N alone delivered the highest response with a 12% increase and 22.94 MT/ha/year.
Cost analysis further highlighted the efficiency gains: the coated N & K treatment generated an additional 1.94 MT/ha and improved net returns by $1,486/ha.
| Treatment | Fertilizer cost ($/ha) | Yield (mt/ha) | Gross income ($/ha) | Net income ($/ha) | ROI (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grower practice | 548 | 20.47 | 20,470 | 19,922 | |
| Agroblen (coated N&K) | 1,002 | 22.41 | 22,410 | 21,408 | |
| Difference | 455 | 1.94 | 1,940 | 1,486 | 327 |
The coated N treatment showed an even stronger economic impact, adding 2.47 MT/ha and increasing net returns by $2,220/ha.
| Treatment | Fertilizer cost ($/ha) | Yield (mt/ha) | Gross income ($/ha) | Net income ($/ha) | ROI (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grower practice | 548 | 20.47 | 20,470 | 19,922 | |
| Agroblen (coated N) | 797 | 22.94 | 22,940 | 22,143 | |
| Difference | 250 | 2.47 | 2,470 | 2,220 | 889 |
Overall, Agroblen improved nutrient use efficiency and consistently outperformed the conventional grower practice.
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