Precise fertilization technology of fruit trees based on quality analysis in China

Abstract

Precision fertilization is an important cultural practice to balance between plant nutritional needs and environmental sustainability. More importantly, it contributes to maintain sustainability that achieve more and consume less. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium are essential elements for orchard productivity. Conventional fertilization is not able to meet the needs of simultaneous application of various amounts and ratios of each nutrient element at different growth stages, and therefore a simple and accurate precision fertilization technology is urgently needed. In order to obtain scientifically more accurate amounts and ratios of different nutrient elements, a precise fertilization technology, the "5416" experimental field design scheme, has been proposed in this study. The "5416" design scheme was tested based on fruit quality analysis, of the fruit trees in 'Cabernet sauvignon' grape field in Penglai County, Shandong Province using the cumulative variance of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium as the target function. The experimental results indicated that the "5416" precision fertilization technology could reasonably predict the accurate fertilizer application amounts and ratios in each growth period to produce better quality fruit based on fixed yield. It is a more accurate precision fertilization modeling approach and provides a modern tool for solving interactive effects among soil nutrients, plant nutrients, fertilization and fruit quality.