Suitable Growing Environment for Apple Trees and Tips for Applying Calcium Fertilizer

The apples produced by apple trees taste sweet and tart and are rich in vitamins and minerals, making them one of the fruits we commonly eat in daily life. After planting, an apple tree generally takes two to three years to bear fruit, with some variation among different varieties. So where are apple trees suitable for growing? How do you skillfully apply calcium fertilizer?

1. Where are apple trees suitable for growing?

China ranks among the world's leaders in both apple production and consumption, with its planting area accounting for 40% of the world's total area. Shandong Province is one of China's four major apple-producing regions, and its climatic conditions and ecological environment are extremely suitable for apple tree growth. Apple trees have relatively strong growth capacity; whether the soil they are planted in is fertile or poor, they can maintain good growth. Shandong Province has a temperate monsoon climate, with abundant precipitation, sufficient soil moisture and rich organic matter, which adds favorable conditions for apple tree growth. At the same time, apple trees grown in an environment with good light conditions and a dry, cool climate will bear fruit faster than in ordinary environments, and the longer the light exposure, the sweeter the apples produced.

2. How do you skillfully apply calcium fertilizer to apple trees?

1. Seize the peak periods

Apple trees have two peak calcium uptake periods each year: the first peak period is at 3 weeks and 5 weeks after petal fall, that is, the young fruit stage, when a 1000-fold solution of Ham Hongyun High-Calcium High can be sprayed 2 to 3 times consecutively on the leaves and fruit, combined with applying highly water-soluble calcium again when the first watering is done in spring. The second calcium uptake peak period is at 10 weeks and 8 weeks before harvest; on the 2nd to 3rd day after removing bags from bagged fruit, a 1000-fold solution of Ham Hongyun High-Calcium High should also be sprayed 1 to 2 more times. In addition, there is pre-harvest calcium supplementation, mainly because as the fruit body continues to expand, the calcium concentration inside the fruit decreases accordingly. Supplementing calcium at this time can not only significantly increase fruit firmness, but also increase the tree's accumulation of calcium.

2. Prevent physiological disorders

Applying calcium fertilizer in autumn is a key measure to solve various physiological disorders caused by calcium deficiency in apples. When applying base fertilizer in autumn after fruit drop and before leaf fall, choose formula fertilization. Increase the application of various fully decomposed organic fertilizers as much as possible, because organic fertilizers can improve the soil, build soil fertility, increase soil organic matter content, and supply fruit trees with various nutrient elements evenly and over the long term, especially trace elements, and play an important role in apple tree root growth, fruit coloring and improving stress resistance. They play a very important role in tree growth, fruit color and other aspects.

3. Precautions for fertilizing apple trees

Seize the timing of fertilization. In autumn, base fertilizer is generally applied after fruit harvest, when the root growth peak arrives, and it is best to apply it after autumn shoots stop growing. This can both ensure that the fruit trees absorb nutrients and prevent excessive growth of autumn shoots.

Apply organic fertilizer, chemical fertilizer and foliar fertilizer in combination. Organic fertilizer is generally used as base fertilizer; cattle and sheep manure and chicken manure are both acceptable. In terms of total fertilization amount, the amount of cattle and sheep manure is best at “a jin of fertilizer per jin of fruit”, while chicken manure can be halved. Autumn fertilization should be based on this total amount, and according to the deficiencies of spring fertilization, supplement the fertilization amount and fertilizer types. Mainly according to tree vigor and the current year's yield load, pay attention to supplementing a certain amount of nitrogen fertilizer, potassium dihydrogen phosphate and other foliar fertilizers.

Pay attention to the position and depth of fertilization. In general, ring-shaped and semi-ring-shaped trench application are suitable for young trees. Strip trench, hole application, radial trench fertilization methods and whole-orchard broadcasting are mostly used for mature trees. The fertilization depth is generally about 40 cm. As the tree canopy expands, the fertilization range and depth should also increase accordingly, and it is best to apply fertilizer in the main distribution layer of the root system.

Usually, fertilization can be combined with deep plowing and soil improvement in the orchard. Apple trees differ from field crops; because the roots absorb nutrients year after year, the soil nutrients around their roots are already very incomplete, and the soil is severely compacted. Deep plowing and fertilization can improve the root growth environment.