Evaluation of Fertilizer Inputs and Soil Nutrient Status in Apple Orchards in China

Abstract

Apple is an important horticultural crop in China and its production consumes large amounts of Chemical fertilizers. In a survey of more than 300 Chinese apple growers, we found that small farmers’ fertilizer inputs are blind. Current research lacks a comprehensive evaluation of fertilizer inputs and soil nutrient status for apple production in China, but the evaluation work will play a supporting role in the macro management decision of nutrient resources. In this study, a database of fertilizer inputs and soil nutrients in five major apple producing areas in China was constructed by means of data integration. Two main conclusions can be drawn from the analysis of the database. Firstly, the chemical N and P fertilizer inputs exceed the recommended use in all five production areas, and secondly, the organic matter content of orchard soils in the five production areas only reaches a maximum of level 3. The research shows that China’s agricultural authorities should carry out macro management of nutrient resources in apple orchards, so as to guide different producing areas to adjust fertilizer input according to their soil environment, so as to improve the utilization rate of fertilizer.