Mastering the Timing and Methods of Fertilizing Waxberry

AbstractThe base fertilizer for waxberry is applied in autumn from September to October, and base fertilizer helps promote root growth; in March to April of the following year, a bud-breaking fertilizer can be applied to help promote axillary bud germination and the growth of branches and leaves; the fruit-swelling fertilizer is applied in early to mid-April, which helps promote summer shoot growth and fruit development; the post-harvest fertilizer is applied in early to mid-July, mainly potassium fertilizer, which helps restore tree vigor and promote flower bud differentiation. Fertilization methods: fertilizers can be applied by the trench method, the ring trench method, and the radial trench method.

I. Fertilization Timing for Waxberry

1. The base fertilizer for waxberry can be applied in autumn, generally from September to October. This is the peak period of waxberry root growth, and applying base fertilizer during this period helps promote root growth, so that in the following spring it can absorb a large amount of nutrients for flowering and fruiting.

2. Fertilization management for waxberry in the middle and later stages is mainly to promote fruit development and improve its quality. The best ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium applied is 1:0.5:4.

3. The fruit-swelling fertilizer is generally applied in early to mid-April, in order to promote summer shoot growth and fruit development.

4. The post-harvest fertilizer is generally applied after harvest in an on-year, in early to mid-July, mainly potassium fertilizer, together with a small amount of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, which helps restore tree vigor and promote flower bud differentiation.

5. Trees that bear fruit in an off-year can be given a special compound fertilizer for fruit once after harvest, which helps reduce flower bud differentiation in autumn and winter, thereby relatively reducing the number of flowers the following year.

6. Among farmyard manures, plant ash and rapeseed cake fertilizer have a mineral nutrient ratio very suitable for waxberry growth, and among them potassium sulfate compound fertilizer and potassium sulfate fertilizer are both quite suitable for waxberry growth. Because phosphorus is an essential substance for the formation of flower bud primordia, and excess will increase the number of flowers and fruits, mature trees generally need phosphorus fertilizer applied once every 1-2 years.

II. Topdressing for Waxberry Trees

1. Topdressing generally needs to be carried out according to the growth characteristics of the waxberry tree. When the waxberry tree is young, quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer can be applied, in small amounts but multiple times, thereby promoting rapid growth of branches and leaves and speeding up the formation of the tree shape.

2. Generally, fruit-bearing waxberry trees need topdressing 2-3 times throughout the year, mainly including the pre-bud fertilizer in March to April, which helps promote axillary bud germination and the growth of branches and leaves.

3. In order to improve the fruit-setting rate, quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer can be applied, together with an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. In May, the fruit-swelling fertilizer can be applied, which helps accelerate fruit enlargement and flower bud differentiation, thereby improving fruit quality. It is mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, with an appropriate amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Each tree can generally be given about 1-2 kg of potassium fertilizer, or about 1-2 kg of sulfur-containing compound fertilizer.

III. Fertilization Methods for Waxberry Trees

1. Trench fertilization method: dig a trench on each side of the outer edge of the canopy projection, each about 30 cm wide and about 20-40 cm deep, and apply fertilizer.

2. Ring trench method: generally dig a ring trench at a slightly farther distance from the outer edge of the waxberry canopy projection, with a depth and width of 20-40 cm respectively, and apply fertilizer.

3. Radial trench method: this method takes the trunk as the center of the circle, and at the canopy projection, about 30 cm inside and outside, digs 4-6 radial trenches along the direction of horizontal root growth, with a trench width of about 30 cm and a depth of about 20-40 cm, shallow inside and deep outside, to prevent too much damage to the waxberry tree roots.