Fertilizer Requirements of Coconut Trees in China and High-Yield Fertilization Techniques and Timing

Fertilizer Requirements of Coconut Trees in China and High-Yield Fertilization Techniques and Timing: The coconut tree is a perennial tropical fruit tree with high yields. Each year it needs to absorb large amounts of nutrients from the soil; if nutrients are not replenished in time, it will have a considerable impact on coconut fruit production.

According to research, a fruiting tree absorbs on average, per plant per year, 0.7 kg of nitrogen, 0.3 kg of phosphorus, 1.0 kg of potassium, 0.9 kg of chlorine, 0.3 kg of calcium, and 0.1 kg of magnesium. It can be seen that coconut trees have the greatest demand for potassium, followed by chlorine; this is a characteristic of coconut nutrition. The amount of chlorine required for fruit growth and vegetative growth is similar. Among the nutrients absorbed for vegetative growth, chlorine and nitrogen are the highest, followed by calcium and potassium. Throughout the entire growth period, phosphorus absorption is the smallest. 

Coconut fertilization is divided into nursery fertilization, young tree fertilization, and mature tree fertilization. For nursery fertilization, it is advisable to apply sufficient base fertilizer: per 667 sq m, apply 1.3 tonnes of organic fertilizer, together with 130 kg of a mixed fertilizer of potassium chloride, superphosphate, and magnesium sulfate.

For topdressing, apply once at 2 months of age, with each plant receiving 25 g of ammonium sulfate, 25 g of potassium chloride, and 20 g of sodium chloride.

Apply again at 5 months of age, with each plant receiving 20 g of ammonium sulfate, 25 g of potassium chloride, and 40 g of sodium chloride. Fertilization of young trees varies with age; at planting, the base fertilizer generally uses ammonium sulfate at 150 g per plant and potassium chloride at 200 g.

At 6 months of age, apply another 200 g of ammonium sulfate and 250 g of potassium chloride. By one year of age, apply 500 g of ammonium sulfate and 500 g of potassium chloride. Thereafter, increase the amount each year and also apply 250 g of superphosphate.

At 5 years of age and above, increase ammonium sulfate to 1,500 g, potassium chloride to 1,000 g, and superphosphate to 500 g. For mature trees, use 2.0-2.5 kg of 45% compound fertilizer per plant per year; use the upper limit for low-fertility soil and the lower limit for relatively fertile soil.