What fertilizer is best for dragon fruit trees? A detailed guide to fertilization methods

When growing dragon fruit, to achieve high yields, besides basic management techniques, you also need to pay attention to the fertilization methods for each stage. At the same time, you cannot just fertilize whenever you want; you also need to adopt suitable fertilization methods according to the plant's nutrient requirements. So what fertilizer is best for dragon fruit trees? How should you fertilize?

Dragon fruit fertilization is mainly based on organic fertilizer, supplemented with a small amount of chemical fertilizer. For the farmyard manure portion, use chicken manure, pig manure and peanut meal in a 1:2:7 ratio, with each 667 sq m using about 9 cubic meters per year (depending on soil fertility and seedling growth). In addition, nitrogen fertilizer and potassium dihydrogen phosphate should be applied as needed, and when there are nutrient deficiencies, a suitable amount of trace element fertilizer should also be added. Experimental research results show that applying fertilizer at the most suitable time can reduce the number of fertilizer applications and improve fertilizer use efficiency.

In areas with high temperatures and abundant rain, applying light doses multiple times can improve fertilizer use efficiency. Dragon fruit can be fertilized 3 times each year in July, October and March of the following year, each time applying 1.2 kg of cow manure compost per plant and 200 g of compound fertilizer per plant. Field trials abroad show that nitrogen fertilizer application generally has a continuous yield-increasing effect, while the yield-increasing effect of phosphate fertilizer appears in the first two years, and potassium fertilizer and trace elements (B, Cu, Zn, Mn) have a good effect on increasing yield in the later stage.

For high-quality and high-yield cultivation, the recommended dragon fruit fertilizer application rate is 80 kg of nitrogen per hectare in the first year; 20 kg of phosphorus pentoxide per hectare each year in the second and third years; and 10 kg of potassium oxide per hectare in the third year. In addition, each fruit tree, according to tree age, can be given Shalefu third-generation biological bacterial mineral fertilizer, which can provide various nutrients in a balanced way and improve the soil environment.

Dragon fruit fertilization timing

1. Base fertilizer is applied 1 month to 2 months before planting. In orchards on hilly slopes, apply soil mixed fertilizer, weeds, mushroom fertilizer, livestock and poultry manure or bacterial fertilizer in layers in the planting pit, about 40-50 kg per pit, plus 3 kg of lime; flatland orchards use mound planting, and each planting hole is given about 15-20 kg of decomposed livestock and poultry manure or mushroom fertilizer or bacterial fertilizer, plus 1.5 kg of lime.

2. Fertilization during the vegetative growth stage. The period from after planting until flowering and fruiting is the vegetative growth stage of dragon fruit. After planting, once the plant is confirmed to have survived, fertilizer can be applied to promote rapid growth of branches and vines. At the seedling stage, decomposed bran cake liquid fertilizer (water fertilizer) or decomposed livestock and poultry manure water fertilizer is suitable, following the principle of frequent light applications. Apply fertilizer once each time new branches and vines sprout and once when new branches and vines begin to turn green, with about 1.5-2 kg of liquid fertilizer per column each time. Alternatively, 15-15-15 nitro-sulfur-based fertilizer can be used, with about 50-80 g per column each time. From the second year onward, the fertilization amount increases by about 50%-80% compared with the first year.

3. Fertilization during the fruiting stage. Dragon fruit flowers and fruits multiple times a year, with the flowering and fruiting stage lasting more than 6 months. Branches, vines, flowers and fruits grow at the same time, and there are generally 5 main fertilization periods throughout the year.

Winter tree-disk mulching with organic fertilizer: apply in December-January of winter when the branches and vines have completely turned green, covering the tree disk with organic fertilizer, applying 10 kg of mixed organic fertilizer per column, or covering with soil mixed fertilizer, applying 15 kg per column. The purpose is to improve the soil, increase organic matter, and enhance the plant's cold resistance.

Flower-promoting fertilizer: apply in early to mid-April, applying 1-1.5 kg of 17-17-17 compound fertilizer per column. The purpose is to promote flower bud development and improve flower quality.

Flower-strengthening and fruit-strengthening fertilizer: apply in early to mid-June, applying 0.5-1 kg of biological bacterial fertilizer and 0.5 kg of 17-17-17 compound fertilizer per column. The purpose is to strengthen flowers, promote fruit enlargement, and improve quality.

Heavy application of flower-promoting and fruit-strengthening fertilizer: apply in early to mid-August, focusing on producing fruit for the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day. Apply 1-1.5 kg of decomposed bran cake fertilizer per column and 0.8-1 kg of 15-15-15 compound fertilizer (nitrogen 15: phosphorus 15: potassium 15). The purpose is to promote more flowering, promote fruit expansion, and improve quality.

Fruit-strengthening and tree-vigor-restoring fertilizer: apply in early to mid-October, applying 0.5-1 kg of 17-17-17 compound fertilizer (nitrogen 17: phosphorus 17: potassium 17) and 3-4 kg of bacterial fertilizer per column. The purpose is to promote the expansion of the last batch of fruit, restore tree vigor, and promote branch and vine growth.

4. Foliar topdressing. Spray 3-5 times with nutrient solution foliar fertilizer during the flower bud stage and fruit development stage. Commonly used foliar fertilizers include potassium dihydrogen phosphate, nucleotides, etc., and the spraying concentration should be used reasonably according to the instructions.

Dragon fruit tree fertilization methods:

1. Ring fertilization

Ring fertilization is also called wheel-shaped fertilization. This fertilization method mainly involves digging a ring-shaped trench around the outer edge of the dragon fruit tree canopy for fertilization. This method is relatively simple and has the advantage of economical fertilizer use. However, during the actual trench digging process, it is easy to damage the horizontal roots, and the fertilization area and range are relatively small, so this method is generally more suitable for fertilizing young trees.

2. Semi-ring fertilization

This method is similar to the ring fertilization described above, mainly dividing the ring into three to four pig-trough-style fertilization trenches. Therefore, this method is also called pigweed-style fertilization. This fertilization method causes less damage and disruption to tree roots, and appropriately changing the fertilization position will effectively expand the fertilization area. It can be applied on both flatland and mountainous land, and is a fertilization method often used in modern hilly and mountainous orchards.

3. Irrigation fertilization

This fertilization method combines fertilization with irrigation. With the development and improvement of drip irrigation technology in China in recent years, this technique has also been promoted and applied accordingly. Whether combined with sprinkler irrigation or drip irrigation, irrigation fertilization, because it supplies fertilizer in a timely manner and distributes fertilizer relatively evenly, not only avoids damage to the root system but also ensures that the soil structure of the tillage layer is not altered, greatly saving labor. Properly combining this method with other fertilization methods will make up for and supplement the shortcomings of various fertilization methods and maximize the effectiveness of fertilizers.

For fertilization management, after planting each year, fertilization can begin once the seedlings are confirmed to have survived. At the dragon fruit seedling stage, it is best to focus on water fertilizer, and ensure frequent light applications, with about twice a month being optimal. On this basis, gradually increase the fertilization amount.

For mature plants, when fertilizing them, try to choose spring each year. Especially for fruiting plants, May is the best month for fertilization. During this process, attention should be paid to maintaining fertilizer moisture so that fertilizer application and management are carried out under appropriate climatic conditions, thereby ensuring large and sweet fruit. It should be noted that during fertilization, if you want the fertilizer effect to penetrate into the dragon fruit as quickly as possible, you should strengthen the fixation of fertilizer in the soil and on dragon fruit leaves. However, fertilization needs to be further controlled, and excessive fertilizer amounts must be avoided.