Effect Of Optimized Fertilization On Fuji Apple Growth And Soil Fertility In Weibei

Due to its unique geography and climate conditions, Shaanxi Weibei is consistently identified as apple optimal areas and gradually become the main producing areas of apple. In recent years, with the gradual commercialization of apple production, farmers pay more and more attention to the management of orchard fertilization. For a long time, most orchards prefer fertilizer than manure, this lead to the degradation of orchard soil properties, then affect fruit growth, fruit quality and yield. And there are various of fertilizers in the market, so farmers have great blindness and randomness in choosing fertilizer, fertilization in orchards is irrational and nutrient is imbalance. Therefore, application of different fertilizer on increasing the yield, apple quality and the effect on tree growth and soil fertility becomes a research hotspot.Soil nutrient levels, leaf relative water content and nutrient levels, fruit and shoot growth, and quality of fruit were monitored during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons to study the responses of “Fuji” apple trees to compound fertilizer and find the best ratio of NPK in compound fertilizer. “Fuji” apple was maintained for the first two growing seasons with three orchard floor treatments, including 1)applied nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium compound fertilizer(15-15-15) 2)applied high nitrogen, high potassium, low phosphorus compound fertilizer with organic manure;3)applied high nitrogen, high phosphorus, low potassium compound fertilizer with organic manure.The results showed:(1)The nutrients concentration for used fertilization treatment and improved fertilization treatment were significantly higher than CK in the mature period of apple, but the improved treatment was much better than used treatment, likely as a result of using foliar fertilizer(12-6-40) and foliar fertilizer(10-30-20).(2)The shoot growth was greater in used fertilization treatment than that in other two treatment, the difference was very significant, and the effect of improved fertilization treatment was not efficient, we need more research to ensure the best choice.(3)Used fertilization treatment and improved fertilization treatment could improve yield, but improved fertilization treatment was more efficient. The weight of single fruit and yield showed the same trend as for shoot growth.(4)Applied compound fertilizer with organic manure increased apple quality. The sugar-acid ratio in used fertilization treatment and improved fertilization treatment increased greater than that in CK after applied organic manure, but there was no significant difference in other traits, to ensure the best treatment, we need more research.(5)The concentration of SOM, available N in surface soil were significantly increased relative to the application of compound fertilizer combined with organic manure. The concentration of available P in improved fertilization treatment was higher than that in used fertilization treatment. the concentration of available K in used fertilization treatment was higher than improved fertilization treatment.Applied compound fertilizer with organic manure and foliar fertilizer could increase nutrient concentration in leaves and fruits, shoot growth, yield, apple quality, soil organic matter and available soil nutrients, but improved fertilization treatment was much better than other two treatment in yield and economic benefits. Improved fertilization treatment was more efficient in increasing yield, but we need more research to find the best treatment in increasing apple quality, and to find the nutrient ratio in compound fertilizer and foliar fertilizer need more research.