How should loquat be fertilized when grown? A detailed explanation of scientific fertilization methods for loquat

Loquat is an evergreen fruit tree that grows and bears fruit year-round without dormancy, so it requires more fertilizer than deciduous fruit trees. Fruiting trees in particular require more potassium. The types, amounts and timing of loquat fertilization should be combined with actual conditions such as soil fertility, tree age, plant vigor, the different growth stages of shoots and roots, the growth and development stages of the fruit, and the size of the crop load, adapting to local conditions and applying the right fertilizer at the right place and time.

1. Fertilizing young trees: In order to promote the growth and shaping of young trees as quickly as possible, cultivate a canopy with strong branches and dense leaves, bear fruit early, and lay a good foundation for future high and stable yields; fertilization of young trees should follow the growth characteristic of growing year-round without dormancy and flushing shoots in all four seasons (namely spring shoots, summer shoots, autumn shoots and winter shoots), applying one shoot-promoting fertilizer before each shoot flush. After about half a month, once the tender shoots have unfolded their leaves, apply another shoot-strengthening fertilizer. Loquat young trees have fine, weak roots and poor fertilizer absorption capacity, so the fertilizer concentration should be dilute, preferably decomposed human and livestock manure water plus an appropriate amount of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, applying frequently and lightly, with the total number of fertilizer applications in a year kept to about 8. 2. Fertilizing fruiting trees: After planting, loquat generally begins to bear fruit in the 3rd year, and enters full fruiting at 8 to 10 years. During this period, it must not only grow wood and form flowers, but also ensure high and stable yields year after year, so it must be fertilized no fewer than 3 times a year. Fruit-picking fertilizer: The summer shoots of loquat are excellent fruiting mother branches, and timely fertilization to cultivate a large number of robust loquat summer shoots is the key to ensuring high-quality, high-yield loquat year after year. The fruit-picking fertilizer is applied after loquat harvest in May to June, which helps quickly restore tree vigor, concentrate the flushing of a large number of large, uniform, robust summer shoots, plump up the fruiting mother branches, and promote good flower bud differentiation. It should be applied by combining long-acting organic fertilizers such as green manure, cake fertilizer and compost with quick-acting nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, and applied deeply in a ring-shaped trench dug along the outer edge of the tree canopy drip line. First bury the organic fertilizer and phosphorus fertilizer in the bottom layer, apply the chemical fertilizer in the upper layer, and finally cover the fertilization trench with soil. The amount applied accounts for 50% of the total annual fertilizer amount.

Flower-promoting fertilizer: Applied in September to October before loquat flowering, to meet the needs of the loquat tree for flowering and fruiting. It not only promotes good loquat flowering with normal, plump flower organ development and a high fruit-setting rate, but also improves the wintering ability of young loquat fruits. This fertilization is a very important yield-increasing measure for preventing alternate bearing in loquat and ensuring high and stable yields year after year. It is mainly slow-release human and livestock manure water plus phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, and the amount applied accounts for about 20% of the total annual fertilizer amount. Fruit-swelling fertilizer (also called spring shoot fertilizer): Applied in February to March after fruit set is determined. Fertilizing during this period not only timely promotes the flushing of a large number of plump spring shoots, promotes and thickens the growth of branches and trunks, and strengthens tree vigor, but also greatly increases the fruit-setting rate, promotes the rapid expansion of young fruits, reduces acidity and increases sweetness, and improves quality and yield. This fertilization is mainly quick-acting chemical fertilizers, with heavy application of potassium fertilizer. The amount applied accounts for about 30% of the total annual fertilizer amount. Foliar topdressing: In order to more effectively improve the nutritional status of the tree body and strengthen tree vigor, while carrying out soil fertilization, use an appropriate amount of plant growth regulators, nutritional additives, etc. for foliar topdressing about once every half a month. The formula can be 0.3% urea + 0.3% monopotassium phosphate + Yebao, or 0.3% monopotassium phosphate + 0.3% urea + Lvwang No. 1, etc.