Source: This post was originally published on Kempf

My recommended reading list remains one of my most popular posts as I continue to update it with new books I discover.

First principles thinking is foundational to developing agronomic management systems that regenerate ecosystem health. It is a delight to discover additional information that can help us understand how to better manage our crops from a perspective that can be adapted to many different situations.

Concepts for Understanding Fruit Trees – T.M. DeJong is one of the gems that I am adding to the list. DeJong describes the foundational principles of energy metabolism and flow in fruit trees, which  he calls the “carbohydrate economy”, with a great deal of clarity, and the simplicity that emerges on the other side of complexity. He provides a thorough understanding of sugar sources and sinks, and how trees express themselves differently based on how sugar flows are managed with pruning (and I would add, nutrition management.)

While the conversation is framed around fruit trees, I would suggest this book is a valuable read for anyone desiring to understand plant physiology better, particularly for perennials. The information is directly applicable to crops that get pruned regularly, like tree crops, vines, and alfalfa.

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