Detailed Explanation of Key Points of Balanced Fertilization Technology for Loquat
According to the fertilizer requirements of loquat, the growth of branches and root systems, and fruit development, determine the appropriate fertilization timing, fertilizer types, amounts, and application methods (pouring, hole application, trench application, or broadcasting followed by turning the soil to cover, etc.), and pay attention to the rational combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic fertilizer with inorganic fertilizer. (1) Fertilization for young trees...
According to the fertilizer requirements of loquat, the growth of branches and root systems, and fruit development, determine the appropriate fertilization timing, fertilizer types, amounts, and application methods (pouring, hole application, trench application, or broadcasting followed by turning the soil to cover, etc.), and pay attention to the rational combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic fertilizer with inorganic fertilizer.
(1) Fertilization for young trees: Young orchards focus mainly on promoting vegetative growth and cultivating a tree canopy with strong branches and lush leaves, laying a good foundation for future high and stable yields. Loquat young trees have fine, weak roots and poor fertilizer absorption capacity, so fertilization should be light and frequent, mainly with nitrogen and phosphorus. In the first year after planting, fertilization begins when the first new shoots mature and the second new shoots sprout, applying 5-10 g urea, about 10 g superphosphate, and 3-5 kg diluted manure water per tree to promote new shoot sprouting and maturation. As the tree age increases, the fertilization amount can gradually increase, and the principle of "two fertilizers per shoot flush" should be followed, that is, fertilizing before new shoots sprout and after new shoots sprout.
(2) Fertilization for fruiting trees: It can be divided into 3 applications. The first is fruit-strengthening fertilizer (spring shoot fertilizer), applied from January to early February, accounting for about 30% of the annual fertilization amount, mainly quick-acting fertilizer, applying 0.5-1 kg compound fertilizer, 0.5 kg potassium fertilizer, and at the same time applying 1-1.5 kg lime. This fertilization can not only promptly promote a large number of plump spring shoots, promote and thicken branch and trunk growth, and strengthen tree vigor, but also greatly increase the fruit-setting rate, promote the rapid expansion of young fruit, reduce acidity and increase sweetness, and improve quality and yield. The second is post-harvest fertilizer (summer shoot fertilizer), applied after harvest, accounting for about 50% of the annual fertilization amount, mainly quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, combined with organic fertilizer (green manure, cake fertilizer, compost, etc.) and phosphate fertilizer, applying 10-15 kg decomposed organic fertilizer, 1-2 kg calcium-magnesium phosphate fertilizer, 0.75-1 kg compound fertilizer, 0.5-1 kg urea, and 1-1.5 kg lime. This fertilization is very important; it can quickly restore tree vigor, concentrate the sprouting of a large number of uniform and robust summer shoots, plump the fruiting mother branches, and promote good flower bud differentiation. The third is flower-promoting fertilizer, generally applied before loquat flowering, accounting for about 20% of the annual fertilization amount, mainly slow-acting human and livestock manure water plus phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, applying 0.5-1 kg compound fertilizer and 15-20 kg organic fertilizer (pig manure water) per tree, applied in a ring-shaped trench. This fertilization can not only promote good loquat flowering, normal and plump flower organ development, and a high fruit-setting rate, but also improve the overwintering ability of loquat young fruit. It is a very important yield-increasing measure for preventing alternate bearing in loquat and ensuring high and stable yields year after year.