When Is the Best Time to Use Water-Soluble Fertilizer for Apple Trees
Apple is one of the fruits people eat regularly, and it has high nutritional value, being rich in minerals and vitamins. Apple trees have a long growth cycle and require rational fertilization to produce good-quality fruit. Below, the editor will introduce the timing of water-soluble fertilizer use for apples.
Water-soluble fertilizer application for apple trees is generally divided into base fertilizer and topdressing
1. Base fertilizer
The best time to apply fertilizer is as soon as possible after the fruit is harvested. Before and after leaf fall, combine it with autumn plowing by applying decomposed organic fertilizer mixed evenly with high-phosphorus water-soluble fertilizer, preferably in radial trenches or strip trenches, about 40cm deep. Use about 4Kg of high-phosphorus fertilizer per mu.
2. Topdressing
High-yield orchards may require as many as 5-7 or more topdressings.
(1) Topdressing before bud break (mid to late March): After spring sprouting, water-soluble fertilizer can be applied. During this period, nitrogen fertilizer can be supplemented, such as Moer macro-element high-nitrogen water-soluble fertilizer. A dosage of 5 kilograms per mu can promote rapid leaf growth and prevent yellowing leaves and similar issues. One topdressing is sufficient.
(2) Topdressing before flower bud differentiation (May-June): Before the apple tree blooms, a high-phosphorus water-soluble fertilizer can be applied once. Phosphorus has a supporting effect on fruit tree flowering and promoting fruit set. You can choose Moer high-phosphorus water-soluble fertilizer or a balanced fertilizer. One topdressing is sufficient.
(3) Topdressing during the fruit enlargement period (July-August): Topdressing during the fruit enlargement period can increase yield and raise the sugar content of the fruit, promote coloring, and improve firmness, making it an essential topdressing. Focus on quick-acting potassium fertilizer, using high-potassium water-soluble fertilizer, about 10 kilograms per mu, applied 2-3 times.
Water-soluble fertilizer for apples has more obvious advantages than traditional compound fertilizer, and the specific fertilization timing should also be adjusted accordingly based on the apple variety, the fertilizer requirements of the fruit tree, and the tree's growth and fruiting conditions.