How to fertilize citrus trees properly? A detailed guide to scientific fertilization techniques
How to fertilize citrus trees properly? How can you tell if a citrus tree is lacking nutrients? We ask experienced gardeners to share the fertilization requirements for citrus, so that the needed nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients can be replenished in time, a certain tree vigor maintained, normal growth and development of the tree ensured, and the goal of consistently high-quality and stable yields year after year achieved. Therefore, Zhongdi Web has compiled the symptoms of citrus nutrient deficiency...
How to fertilize citrus trees properly? How can you tell if a citrus tree is lacking nutrients? We ask experienced gardeners to shareThe fertilization requirements for citrus are to replenish the needed nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other nutrients in time, maintain a certain tree vigor, ensure normal growth and development of the tree, and achieve the goal of consistently high-quality and stable yields year after year. Therefore, Zhongdi Web has compiled the various symptoms of citrus nutrient deficiency, listed in detail below for gardeners to reference.
Symptoms of nitrogen deficiency in citrus:
When nitrogen fertilizer is insufficient, sugar content gradually increases as the application rate rises, but excessive application causes sugar content to decline instead. Acid content and sugar content move in opposite directions; excessive nitrogen fertilizer leads to high acidity.
In citrus orchards that have been cultivated with continuous heavy fertilization in the past, if the fertilizer rate is reduced, within one year most trees show better coloration, smooth peel, lower acidity and improved quality. However, if fertilizer reduction continues, the citrus trees become undernourished, which causes declining tree vigor, reduced yield, alternate bearing and poorer quality. Puffing usually occurs more often the more nitrogen fertilizer is applied. As for peel coloration, insufficient nitrogen application leads to faster color change but pale color; excessive application leads to deep color but some green remains.
Symptoms of phosphorus deficiency in citrus:
Phosphorus has a good effect on flower bud differentiation and fruit quality in citrus, especially on reducing acidity. When phosphorus is deficient, citrus trees grow and develop poorly and quality declines. Therefore, applying phosphorus when it is deficient can improve fruit quality.
When phosphorus fertilizer is applied without a deficiency, it hardly increases the phosphate content of the tree, and its promoting effect on citrus growth and development and fruit quality is also hard to see. If phosphorus is excessive, it hinders the growth of fine roots, reduces nitrogen uptake, and causes deficiencies of trace elements such as copper and zinc.
Symptoms of potassium deficiency in citrus:
Potassium-deficient citrus has thin, smooth peel, low acidity, small fruit and low yield. If potassium application is increased, the fruit becomes larger and yield increases, but when applied excessively, the fruit becomes thick-skinned and large with poorer quality.
Symptoms of trace element deficiency in citrus:
Deficiency or excess symptoms of trace elements such as zinc, magnesium and manganese can appear in the fruit and leaves, and affect the growth and development of citrus trees and cause quality decline. Based on the deficiency symptoms, applying once a year is sufficient.
The effect of applying organic fertilizer on citrus:
The main period for applying organic fertilizer is in autumn. If the application period is delayed until after the beginning of spring, nitrogen fertilizer is released gradually, and if there is still a large excess of nitrogen fertilizer by the fruit enlargement stage, new shoot growth cannot stop and fruit quality will decline.
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