Key Points and Methods of Blueberry Fertilization Techniques Explained
Blueberries are a highly nutritious fruit and are deeply loved by consumers in daily life. In recent years, demand for blueberries in China has been growing, and the blueberry planting area has increased year by year. Blueberries are oligotrophic plants, so the fertilizer amount and fertilization techniques are extremely important. So how should blueberries be fertilized? Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.
1. Fertilizer Requirements
Blueberries are relatively sensitive to the type and amount of fertilizer. They prefer ammonium nitrogen, and their absorption of ammonium nitrogen far exceeds that of nitrate nitrogen, so attention should be paid during fertilization. Pay attention to chlorine when fertilizing. Blueberries are extremely sensitive to chlorine, and applying chlorine-containing fertilizers may cause chlorine toxicity, and in severe cases lead to death. In addition, blueberries also avoid alkaline conditions, so alkaline fertilizers should not be used when fertilizing. Blueberries have a small fertilizer requirement, needing only 30 grams of nitrogen, 10 grams of phosphorus, and 20 grams of potassium per plant per year, so attention should be paid during fertilization. Excessive fertilization should be avoided, as it may cause damage to the tree body's storage or even death.
2. Fertilization Time
Many growers are extremely concerned about the fertilization time for blueberries. Generally, base fertilizer should be applied before the soil freezes in autumn when branches form, mostly in November when leaves fall. In addition, blueberries need multiple topdressings throughout the entire growth period. The first is applied 10-15 days before germination to promote flower bud differentiation; the second is applied at flowering and fruit setting, generally in May, to make the plant bloom and bear more fruit and improve the fruit-setting rate; the third is applied 7-10 days before harvest to promote fruit expansion and improve yield and quality.
3. Fertilization Methods
The specific fertilization method should be determined according to the condition of the tree body and the soil fertility. The root system of blueberries has weak absorption capacity, and the roots are mainly concentrated at the outer edge of the canopy, so fertilization should focus on the area where the roots are concentrated, inducing the root system to develop outward and expanding the absorption area as much as possible. Base fertilizer generally adopts the ring-shaped fertilization method or the strip-ditch fertilization method. Apply base fertilizer reasonably, and be careful not to damage the root system during fertilization, especially the new roots. Topdressing is mainly done through drip irrigation, and watering and fertilizing can be carried out in multiple applications during budding, fruit development, and fruit harvesting. The advantage of doing this is that the fertilizer concentration is lower, it is easily absorbed by the root system, and it contains few impurities, maximizing fertilizer efficiency.
The above is an introduction to blueberry fertilization techniques. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please follow us.