What precautions should be taken when applying rare earth micro-fertilizers in walnut orchards?
The content of rare earth elements in plants is very low, and the content varies greatly among different organs, generally distributed as: root > stem > leaf > flower > fruit and seed. About 80% of the rare earth elements absorbed by plants are concentrated in the roots. Applying rare earth micro-fertilizer to walnut trees can promote the root system's absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc, increase the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in leaves, and reduce and avoid nutrient deficiency symptoms. Rare earth micro-fertilizer can promote nitrogen metabolism in plant leaves, increase the chlorophyll content in leaf tissues, enhance photosynthetic intensity, promote tree growth, and can significantly reduce leaf moisture evaporation, lower transpiration intensity, thereby improving the drought resistance of walnut trees. Therefore, the effect of applying rare earth micro-fertilizer is extremely obvious in orchards in arid and semi-arid regions, or orchards with poor irrigation conditions.
After applying rare earth micro-fertilizer to walnut trees, it can promote the balanced absorption of nutrient elements by the root system, ensure robust tree growth, and improve the tree's stress resistance and pesticide resistance. It promotes seed germination and improves planting survival rate. It promotes tree growth and development, improves fruit set rate, increases yield and improves fruit quality.
1. Application principles When diluting rare earth micro-fertilizer, clean water with a pH of 5~6 should be used. Rare earth micro-fertilizer cannot dissolve in alkaline solutions and hard water, and easily precipitates, therefore, it must not be mixed with alkaline fertilizers. When preparing, nitric acid or acetic acid should be used to adjust the water pH to 5~6. When rare earth micro-fertilizer is used in combination with boron, ethephon, Yemianbao and other hormones or foliar fertilizers at suitable concentrations, the yield-increasing effect is more obvious. However, rare earth micro-fertilizer cannot replace organic or inorganic fertilizers. Only under conditions of sufficient various nutrients can the application of rare earth micro-fertilizer improve fertilizer efficiency. It must be combined with other fertilization when applied. Because rare earth micro-fertilizer can promote plant absorption of nutrients, but cannot provide nutrients. Therefore, fertilizer should be applied once 1 day before and after applying rare earth.
2. Application methods and timing Rare earth micro-fertilizer aqueous solution should be prepared for immediate use. It can be applied by foliar spraying, soil trenching, rootstock soaking, vine root soaking or seed dressing, and can also be used to soak cuttings or scions. Generally, foliar spraying is preferable, choosing a sunny day with no wind or light wind, before 10 am or after 4 pm. If rain occurs within 2 hours after spraying, re-spray once. Application timing: For young trees, spray once each around the Beginning of Spring, Beginning of Summer and Beginning of Autumn with a 0.03%~0.05% concentration of "Nongle" rare earth micro-fertilizer aqueous solution; for fruiting trees, spray once each at the initial flowering stage and young fruit stage with a 0.05%~0.1% concentration of the same rare earth micro-fertilizer aqueous solution, which can increase yield by about 26%.
3. Application concentration The application concentration of rare earth micro-fertilizer solution must be prepared strictly according to the instruction manual, or the optimal application concentration should be determined through experimentation. Applying rare earth micro-fertilizer beyond the critical concentration will inhibit the absorption of minerals and tree growth and development, and fertilizer damage worsens with increasing concentration, and in severe cases will burn petals, leaves and young shoots, and even cause branch death the following year. High concentrations of rare earth micro-fertilizer will also reduce the plant's stress resistance and disease resistance.
4. Precautions for applying rare earth micro-fertilizer to fruit trees When applying rare earth micro-fertilizer, soil conditions and the ratio of commonly used fertilizer amounts should be considered. Rare earth cannot be mixed with potassium dihydrogen phosphate, otherwise it easily forms precipitates that cannot be absorbed by plants. Rare earth micro-fertilizer should not be stored in iron, aluminum or other metal containers; wooden barrels, plastic or enamel containers can be used for seed dressing and seed soaking. Seeds remaining after sowing cannot be eaten or used as feed. Avoid applying together with ammonia water and co-precipitates such as ammonium salts, carbonates and phosphates; prepare for immediate use, do not leave standing for too long; avoid strong wind, heavy rain and direct sun exposure. A large number of experiments have proven that applying rare earth in areas with low available content has better effects, and the effect is even better on the basis of appropriate application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. High concentrations of rare earth micro-fertilizer can also inhibit growth. The pH of the prepared rare earth micro-fertilizer solution is best adjusted to 6.0~6.2. Too acidic will cause damage to plant leaves, while too alkaline will cause the solution to precipitate.