Efficiency of application of new domestic fertilizers during fertigation in intensive apple tree plantations

Abstract

The article presents the results of a comparative study of two fertigation systems of apple tree plantations, cultivated by intensive technology. The first system was mainly based on imported fertilizers of the OLIGOMAX range, the second system was based on domestic water-soluble fertilizers AQUA DROP and SOLAR. The purpose of the research was to estimate the efficiency of the use of domestic mineral fertilizers during fertigation in intensive apple tree plantations under conditions of the Krasnodar Territory. The application of mineral fertilizers in the dissolved form through the drip irrigation system was carried out during the growing season under dry conditions every 3-4 days. During the growing season 38 fertigations were carried out. Regular use of mineral fertilizers during the growing season contributed to the optimization of the water and nutrient regimes of the intensive apple tree plantations, by using both imported and domestic fertilizers. The use of domestic water-soluble fertilizers in the first year contributed to the optimization of the nutritional regime of the apple tree plantations, which was manifested in the increase in average mass of fruits by 2,5-3,2 g and the improvement in the formation of generative buds. In the second year of application of domestic fertilizers, the increase in the yield of apple trees by 4,3-5,8 t/ha was noted. An explicit advantage of using water-soluble fertilizers of the AQUA DROP and SOLAR range in fertigation is their lower cost price as compared to imported analogues. Even with the same potential yield of apple trees, the savings due to the use of domestic mineral fertilizers ranged from 17,8 to 28,5 thousand rubles/ha. In general, the use of domestic water-soluble mineral fertilizers in fertigation systems not only contributes to optimize the nutrition of apple trees, but also significantly improves the economic efficiency of fruit production.