How to Fertilize Orange Trees? Detailed Explanation of the Key Points of Scientific Fertilization Techniques
The orange is one of our common fruits. It is a hybrid of the pomelo and the mandarin, and after long cultivation it has developed numerous varieties, making it quite popular in the market. When growing them, if you want the orange trees to bear more fruit and increase yields, fertilization techniques are extremely important. So how should orange trees be fertilized? Let's take a look.
1. Apply sufficient base fertilizer
The orange is a deep-rooted plant with a fairly developed root system, so in order to promote a well-developed root system and meet its needs throughout the entire growing period, base fertilizer should be applied together with plowing before planting. Generally, 3000-4000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer is applied per mu, and it is buried into the soil during plowing. The plowing should be deep, so as to prevent the fertilizer from being buried too shallow, which would cause the roots to extend upward and be detrimental to the plant's growth.
2. Topdressing for young trees
During the young tree stage, the main goal is to promote seedling growth, cultivate sturdy branches and scaffold branches, accelerate the formation of the canopy, and lay the foundation for early fruiting. Therefore, fertilization during the young tree stage is generally based on nitrogen fertilizer, paired with an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Nitrogen fertilizer is mainly applied during the three flushes of spring, summer, and autumn. Generally, about 350-600 grams of urea is applied per seedling, and the amount of fertilizer increases year by year as the tree age increases. The summer flush is the period of most vigorous growth for the plant, so heavy application is required at this time.
3. Fertilization for mature trees
After the orange tree enters the fruiting stage, the goal at this time is to continue expanding the canopy and achieve high yields. Fertilization at this stage is intended to regulate the balance between vegetative growth and reproductive growth of the plant. Therefore, when fertilizing, factors such as soil, climate, tree vigor, and yield must be taken into account. Generally, the flowering stage is the most important thing in the growth and development of oranges; the quality of the flowers affects the yield of that year and also has a certain impact on the yield of the following year. So at this time, quick-acting chemical fertilizers are mainly applied, paired with organic fertilizer. The fertilization time is in February-March, accounting for about 30% of the total annual fertilization. During the fruiting period, topdressing should be done 2-3 times to ensure the fruit has enough nutrients to grow. In July-August, quick-acting chemical fertilizers are mainly applied, combined with organic fertilizer, accounting for about 35% of the total annual fertilization.
4. Foliar fertilization
Foliar topdressing, also called leaf fertilization, can quickly provide nutrients to the plant. Usually, different fertilizers are mixed and applied, which can meet the comprehensive requirements of orange growth for nutrient elements. Generally, a mixed solution of urea, superphosphate, calcium, and potassium sulfate is mainly sprayed. Spraying during the fruiting period has an obvious yield-increasing effect and can also improve fruit quality.
The above is an introduction to the fertilization techniques for orange trees. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.