What Fertilizer Is Best for Eucalyptus? A Detailed Guide to Scientific Fertilization Methods

Eucalyptus is the collective name for plants of the genus Eucalyptus in the family Myrtaceae. It is one of the three major fast-growing tree species, with a well-developed root system, strong absorbing capacity and a large growth volume. During growth it absorbs nutrients quickly, which can impoverish the soil, so appropriate fertilization is necessary. Let us take a look below at what fertilizer eucalyptus uses!

What fertilizer does eucalyptus use?

During growth, each eucalyptus tree absorbs on average about 36 grams of nitrogen, about 2085 grams of phosphorus, about 20 grams of potassium, about 31 grams of calcium, about 8.5 grams of magnesium and about 4 grams of sulfur from the soil each year. The proportion of the different nutrients is, in order, nitrogen > potassium > phosphorus, and calcium > magnesium > sulfur. Practice has shown that, besides the three major elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, eucalyptus also needs supplementary absorption of various medium and trace mineral elements; the requirements for elements such as boron, zinc, iron, copper and manganese are relatively small. Although the total demand of eucalyptus for trace elements is very small, they play a major role in the fast growth of eucalyptus. If these trace elements cannot be supplemented in appropriate amounts when planting eucalyptus, the young and tender parts of the tree, such as the roots, root tips and stem tips, will be the first to suffer; in severe cases the growing points die, lignin formation is blocked, the tree cannot become usable timber, and yield is reduced.

How is eucalyptus fertilized?

1. Base fertilizer: 7 days before planting eucalyptus, apply 0.25-0.5 kg of compound fertilizer or eucalyptus special-purpose fertilizer per planting hole. Put the fertilizer into the hole and backfill with a 1-2 cm layer of topsoil.

2. Topdressing: 1 month after planting eucalyptus, or after the young trees have grown 1 m tall, begin topdressing, applying 0.25 kg of compound fertilizer or eucalyptus special-purpose fertilizer per tree to promote early and rapid growth of the eucalyptus. In the second year, apply topdressing once in March-April, applying 0.5 kg of compound fertilizer or eucalyptus special-purpose fertilizer per tree. In the third and fourth years, apply topdressing once each year, applying 0.8 kg of compound fertilizer or eucalyptus special-purpose fertilizer per tree to promote rapid formation of usable timber; it can be harvested in 4-5 years, and the wood yield per mu can reach 6-8 cubic meters.

How is topdressing done for eucalyptus?

1. Before each topdressing of eucalyptus, weeds must be removed to avoid weeds competing for fertilizer.

2. For topdressing eucalyptus, you can open a crescent-shaped fertilizer trench 30 cm from the tree roots on the uphill side, or open one fertilizer hole above the tree roots and on each of the left and right sides, then cover with soil after application to prevent fertilizer loss.

3. It is best to fertilize after rain, as the fertilizer is easily absorbed.

4. On ridge tops the soil is thin and poor, so more fertilizer should be applied; along ditch edges and in valleys the soil is thick and fertile, so less fertilizer should be applied. Adapt to local conditions, use reasonable amounts, save costs and improve benefits.

5. Use soil testing for fertilization. Fertilize according to the soil-testing fertilization recommendation card provided by the technical department to save costs and increase efficiency.