Summer Is the Right Time to Apply Potassium Fertilizer to Apple Trees, Don't Miss It

The uptake of potassium by apple trees generally occurs from early July to early August. Applying an appropriate amount of potassium fertilizer to the trees during this period can significantly increase fruit size, raise sugar content, improve coloring, and also make the fruit color more vivid, the skin smooth and clean, and improve intrinsic qualities such as flavor and taste. If the same amount of potassium fertilizer is applied in early spring or before the flowering period, there will be no obvious effect on either yield or coloring. The application rate can be about 1 kg of pure potassium per 100 kg of yield. Excessive application will instead damage the physiological functions of the fruit trees and affect the absorption and utilization of other elements. Excessive potassium fertilizer applied to apple trees can cause magnesium deficiency symptoms, and the calcium content in the tree body will also be relatively reduced.

In addition, when applying potassium fertilizer, potassium sulfate, which has high absorption and utilization efficiency and obvious effects, should be chosen; next is potassium chloride. Organic fertilizers with relatively high potassium content, such as plant ash or decomposed chicken manure, can also be broadcast under the trees, then shallowly buried and watered. If a 0.3%-0.5% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution or a 300-500 times dilution of amino acid potassium is used for foliar spraying as a supplement, good results can also be achieved. (Modern Fruit Industry)