A Detailed Guide to Autumn Fertilization and Management of Peach Trees

The peach tree is a small deciduous tree valued both for its edible fruit and its ornamental beauty. Its fruit is juicy and rich in certain nutrients. Peach blossoms are beautiful in shape and bright in color, and are deeply loved by everyone. Peach trees are planted in all parts of our country, and there are very many varieties. Now let us take a look below at the key points for autumn fertilization and management of peach trees.

I. Key points for autumn fertilization of peach trees

1. Get the fertilization timing right

Autumn application of base fertilizer to peach trees is generally best in early to mid-September. During this period the soil temperature is relatively high, the root system has a strong regenerative capacity, and broken roots recover quickly.

2. Fertilize shallowly

The root system of the peach tree is mainly distributed in the 20-40 cm soil layer, so the depth of the fertilization trench or fertilization holes should preferably be 30-40 cm. The fertilization area should be broad. Peach tree roots have a stronger oxygen requirement than fruit trees such as apples, so the fertilization area should be appropriately enlarged to expand the absorption area of the root system, improve the growing environment of the root system, and enhance the absorption function of the root system. Nutrients should be complete. The base fertilizer for peach trees should be mainly organic fertilizers such as barnyard manure and cake fertilizer. In addition to organic fertilizer, it should be applied in combination with inorganic fertilizer. Fertilization must be combined with the use of photosynthetic nutrient film fertilizer, which can help plants absorb large amounts of light fertilizer, light energy, and light, is compatible with conventional fertilizers, and supplies nutrients to plant growth and development to the limit. It can help plants absorb large amounts of light fertilizer, light energy, and light, is compatible with conventional fertilizers, and supplies nutrients to plant growth and development to the limit. The base fertilizer should be sufficient. Peach trees have a relatively high fruit-setting rate and also have relatively high requirements for soil nutrients. Generally, for trees in the early fruiting stage and trees in the full fruiting stage, the fertilization amount should be increased, and it should be used together with new high-fat film to improve fertilizer efficiency and prevent pathogen infection.

II. Key points for autumn management of peach trees

1. Restore tree vigor

After peach trees are harvested, tree vigor tends to weaken. To replenish the organic nutrients consumed in large amounts by fruit growth and development, fertilizer should be applied in good time. For each high-yielding peach tree, apply half a jin of compound fertilizer, which can be applied together with rain or irrigation to promote nutrient absorption by the tree and leaf photosynthesis, so as to accumulate nutrients for the tree. Fertilization should be carried out within 10 days after harvest. Young trees or overly vigorous trees may not be fertilized. After harvest, foliar fertilization should be carried out together with pesticide spraying, generally spraying 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate to promote branch maturity and flower bud differentiation.

2. Prune and trim branches to improve ventilation and light conditions in the tree

After the fruit is harvested, the tree needs to be pruned, mainly by thinning out overly dense branches, strong vigorous branches, water sprouts, upright branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and perennial large branches that disrupt the tree canopy, and by heading back thin and weak branches. The length of the branches retained after heading back should be determined according to the overall layout of the tree and the degree of weakness; generally, the retained branch length should preferably be 20-30 cm. Adjust the branch layout and the amount of branches and leaves, improve ventilation and light conditions, and arrange large, medium, and small fruiting branch groups in a well-spaced manner, avoiding bareness in the inner canopy and the upward shifting of fruiting branch groups. On the one hand, this can increase light in the inner canopy and promote flower bud formation; on the other hand, it can also reduce the incidence of pests and diseases, achieving the goal of strengthening the tree and stabilizing its vigor. In addition, pinch off the tips of water sprouts that have not stopped growing, to control the front and promote the back, which can make branch tissues more solid.

3. Deep plowing of the soil and expansion of holes to improve the soil

In combination with autumn application of base fertilizer, deep plowing can be carried out to improve the soil, which is beneficial for root sprouting. After deep plowing, broken roots can stimulate the growth of large numbers of new roots, promote root renewal, and improve root vitality. The orchard can be plowed from late September to mid-October, and this can be combined with autumn application of base fertilizer. The deep plowing method is mainly manual operation, and the depth should preferably be 35-40 cm. Deep plowing can be done for the whole orchard, locally, or as a combination of both. For adult orchards that have not been deep plowed for many years, whole-orchard deep plowing should be adopted; for orchards deep plowed every year or every other year, local deep plowing may be used. If the main root and thick lateral roots are encountered during deep plowing, they can be cut off at the outer edge of the tree canopy, and the cut roots should be trimmed smooth. After thicker roots are dug and broken, the wounds should be trimmed smooth so as to promote the growth of large numbers of new roots.