Post-harvest efficiency: capturing the nutrients in your canopy before they’re gone
We are in the fall fertility window, and many growers are making plans and applications for postharvest nutrition. Input costs remain at record highs, and fertilizer prices are no exception. With every budget line under scrutiny, this is the time to look at efficiency differently.
Have you considered your plant canopy as a nutrient source? The nutrients in the plant can be recycled and resorbed with the right nutrient management plan. Research shows that an average almond orchard carries about 12,000 pounds of leaves per acre. Standard-planted orchards average 125–130 trees per acre, while high-density apple or cherry orchards may have ten times the trees but roughly the same canopy volume. That canopy holds more than just shade — it’s a reservoir of bio-available nutrients, ready to be reclaimed if we act at the right time.
Why It Matters: canopy nutrients
Before leaves drop, they are carrying real economic value in their nutrient inventory. Let’s consider just Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. For example, in an average orchard canopy, with 10,000–12,000 pounds of leaves per acre, tissue samples show that nutrients add up to hundreds of dollars’ (in value) per acre when priced against current fertilizer market prices (and replacement costs).
The important part to keep in mind is that these nutrients are in bio-available forms — already processed by the plant and ready for immediate use. Or, in this case, for future use. Chlorophyll begins to fade as we move into autumn and phloem dominance begins. These hundreds of dollars’ worth of nutrients can be reclaimed, at this stage, and resorbed into buds and woody tissues. That process fortifies reserves which supports dormancy and spring growth needs without relying solely on purchased fertilizer.
If you miss the window, those nutrients fall to the ground and their value is left to the uncertainties of weather and decomposition activities, and as such, much of this value may be lost. With fertilizer costs higher across the board, reclaiming what the canopy already holds isn’t just sound agronomy — it’s savvy economics.
Agronomic principle: efficiency in timing
Every grower knows the importance of putting the right nutrient in the right place at the right time. The canopy is no different. As fall progresses and chlorophyll fades, phloem dominance takes over — nutrients begin moving from the leaves back into the permanent structure of the tree. This is Nature’s dynamic design AND this is the moment to act.
An effective way to take advantage of Nature’s design and capture more of those canopy nutrients is by applying Atlas and Deuces, from Axiom Ag, to the soil. These products are applied prior to canopy chlorophyll loss and will accelerate the natural process of nutrient remobilization from leaves back into the plant. Enzyme activity helps the plant etch nutrients within the cytoplasm and moves them into the plant, past the abscission layer, where they settle into woody tissues and reserve stores.
This is a smart and efficient way of protecting the investment you’ve already made. Rather than letting hundreds of dollars per acre in canopy nutrition fall away with defoliation, this approach ensures more of it is retained within the plant, where it directly supports dormancy, early development and next year’s production goals.
Considerations for Growers:
Timing: The best window for canopy nutrient reclamation is just before chlorophyll loss, when phloem dominance is beginning. Waiting too long shortens the window of opportunity and risks losing nutrients with defoliation.
Tools: Soil microbiology and enzyme applications at this stage can improve the efficiency of nutrient remobilization, ensuring more N, P, and K (and other nutrients too) are stored for dormancy and spring use.
Efficiency: Recycling canopy nutrients reduces dependence on fertilizer inputs, which are taking up more of your nutrient budget. With national averages for commodity fertilizers up compared to last year — and ongoing uncertainty about 2026 nitrogen supplies — efficiency is more important than ever.
Risks: Leaving nutrients to the uncertainties of weather and microbial decomposition after defoliation is less predictable. Wind can move leaves, and breakdown rates depend heavily on conditions. By acting early, growers take control of nutrient recycling rather than leaving it to chance.
Efficiency is more than a buzzword — it’s about turning today’s canopy into tomorrow’s reserves. With fertilizer costs still elevated and uncertainty about future nitrogen supplies, reclaiming nutrients before they’re lost is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take.
Products like Axiom Ag Atlas and Deuces are designed to help you capture those nutrients while they’re still in the canopy. Applied at the right time, they accelerate nutrient remobilization so more of your investment stays in the tree, ready to support dormancy and power early development next spring. This is a foundational application for improving rootzone productivity and plant health.
If you’d like to see how these tools can fit into your Nutrient Management Plan, contact us today at SoilMatters. We can tailor an approach that helps you strengthen reserves, improve efficiency, and stretch your fertilizer budget further.
Here’s to your crops’ success!
Marc Suderman, CCA
SoilMatters | Marc Suderman Consulting, LLC
