Key Technical Points for Scientific Application of Foliar Fertilizer on Dragon Fruit
Dragon fruit is deeply loved by many consumers because of its sweet and refreshing taste that is not cloying. We all know that dragon fruit likes to grow in warm, sunny environments and is a tropical fruit. So when growing dragon fruit, how should foliar fertilization be carried out? Let's learn together below!
Foliar Fertilizer Techniques for Dragon Fruit
1. Concentration dilution: The calculation for diluting fertilizer concentration must be strict. A reasonable concentration can supplement nutrients relatively well, while a concentration that is too high or too low cannot achieve the expected effect.
2. Sprayer selection: High pressure and good atomization greatly improve the foliar absorption rate.
3. Spraying method: When spraying, hold the nozzle tilted upward and aim it at the back of the dragon fruit leaves and the surface of the fruit, which can promote rapid absorption, transformation and utilization of nutrients.
How to Improve the Utilization Rate of Foliar Fertilization
1. Understand the growth characteristics of dragon fruit. The dragon fruit plant belongs to the Cactaceae family and is a perennial climbing vine plant. It has the physiological and ecological characteristics of a drought-adapted plant. Its stems and leaves have become modified, appearing as triangular, columnar, succulent green branches, while the leaves have degenerated into needle-like points distributed along the ridges of the triangular columns. A large number of brown aerial roots grow on the surface of the branches, and together these two form all the nutrient organs through which dragon fruit receives foliar fertilizer.
2. Requirements for foliar fertilizer formulation based on the surface characteristics of dragon fruit branches. The efficiency of foliar fertilizer is closely related to leaf surface traits and structure. The epidermal cuticle is a barrier that mineral nutrients must pass through to enter the plant body. Leaves with a thick waxy layer on the surface do not easily allow fertilizer droplets to penetrate, and after spraying, the liquid fertilizer droplets will slide off the surface, causing nutrient loss with no absorption or fertilizer effect. The triangular column surface of dragon fruit has a thick, hard and hydrophobic waxy layer, which places special requirements on the formulation and application techniques of foliar fertilizer. To improve fertilizer utilization, Shunzhi, Lianbian and similar products can be added after diluting the foliar fertilizer so that the crop absorbs it instantly.
3. The selection of nutrient components for dragon fruit foliar fertilizer should be based on the principle of mainly supplementing medium and trace nutrient elements while combining them with major nutrient elements. During the long production period from April to November each year, magnesium, boron and nitrogen should be mainly supplied in the early fruiting stage, while in the middle and late fruiting stages more attention should be paid to the successive supplementation of potassium, nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, iron and boron. They are all beneficial for improving the stress resistance and quality of dragon fruit.
4. Fertilize according to the characteristics of dragon fruit. Dragon fruit, native to arid regions and characterized by succulence, belongs to plants of the Crassulacean acid metabolism type. Their stomata are open at night and closed during the day. This opening and closing pattern of the stomata is opposite to that of other C4 plants. Because the main pathways for foliar fertilizer nutrients to enter the plant body are through stomata and cracks in epidermal tissue, the best time for foliar spraying of dragon fruit is after 5-6 p.m.; spraying fertilizer when the sun is setting is conducive to nutrient absorption.
Precautions for Foliar Fertilization of Dragon Fruit
1. Formula composition: Dragon fruit has a relatively large demand for potassium in the later stage, so the foliar fertilizer must contain this element. The other medium and trace elements should also be present as mentioned above. In addition, today's high-end foliar fertilizers all contain appropriate amounts of humic acid and amino acid components, which are very helpful for comprehensively supplementing the nutrients of dragon fruit.
2. Water solubility: Foliar fertilizer must have acceptable water solubility and produce no impurity precipitate after dissolving, so that it will not clog pipes. You can refer to Liheng fruit tree foliar fertilizer, in which the nutrients and water solubility both meet the standard, and it does not contain hormone components.
Treatment Methods for Yellowing Dragon Fruit Leaves
1. Branch and trunk spraying. For severely affected fruit trees, before sprouting, spray a 0.3-0.5% ferrous sulfate solution, or a mixed solution of copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate and lime: copper sulfate 0.5 jin, quicklime 1.25 jin, water 160 jin, which can control the occurrence of the disease.
2. Trunk injection. The most commonly used and effective is a 0.05-0.1% ferrous sulfate solution. Injection with a 0.05-0.1% ferric citrate solution also has a certain effect.
3. Application of metal chelated iron. Chelated metal is formed by metal ions plus a chelating agent. Applying chelated iron can improve the supply status of certain nutrient elements in the soil. In addition to soil application, chelated iron can also be sprayed on the foliage as a 0.1-0.2% chelated iron solution to restore leaf color.
4. Whether applied to the soil or sprayed on the foliage, take care not to overdose, so as to avoid phytotoxicity.
So there are actually so many techniques for foliar fertilization of dragon fruit. Have you all learned them? You should know that foliar fertilization is a very critical step, as it affects the later growth momentum of dragon fruit. I believe that as long as you put in the effort, you will be rewarded. I hope the article above is helpful to everyone.