The Fertilizer Application Technology In Apple And Kiwifruit Orchards In Shaanxi Province

Shaanxi Province is one of the seven suitable apple growing regions in the world, and it is also the only one eugenic apple and kiwifruit growing region in China.We took apple and kiwifruit orchards in Weibei dryland and Guangzhong Plain as test to study the fertilizer application technology in apple and kiwifruit orchards in Shaanxi Province. And to find out the most suitable fertilizer application technology from controlling the soil environment in order to adjust the appropriate productivity, for further. The final purpose of this research is expected to offer scientific guidance for harmonious development of apple and kiwifruit production technology, economic income of farmer, and the apple orchard ecosystem.The main results of this research showed as follows:1. Accurate information about current soil nutrient concentrations in orchards is necessary for making recommendations about future fertilizer application rates. Additional information is needed about the amount of surplus soil N and P in the orchards of Shaanxi Province, which is the main apple and kiwi production region in China. Analysis of N and P inputs and soil N and P loading is important for nutrient management in orchards. The objective of this study was to quantify both the N and P application rates and the amount of surplus soil N and P in orchards in Shaanxi Province. Soil samples were collected from orchards in different parts of Shaanxi Province and then analyzed to determine soil N and P concentration. Additional information was collected from farmer interviews and an agricultural statistics database. The data was analyzed using the N and P balance method. The results showed that N fertilizer application rates averaged927.2kg N/hm2among the orchards surveyed in this study. Manure application accounted for139.4kg N/hm2. Nearly95%of the orchards had surplus N, with an average surplus of876.3kg N/hm2. Nearly,58%of the orchards had an N surplus of more than500kg N/hm2. More than27%of the orchards had an N surplus of more than1000kg N/hm2. Among the different kinds of orchards, kiwi orchards had the highest N input rate (1432.9kg N/hm2) and the highest amount of surplus N (1186.9kg N/hm2). In irrigated areas of central Shaanxi Province, the N surplus averaged1046kg N/hm2. This amount was greater than the surplus amount in the Weibei rain-fed region. There was positive correlation between the amount of surplus N and the N application rate.The results also showed that the phosphate fertilizer application rates averaged366.1kg P2O5/hm2among the orchards surveyed in this study. It was presenting excess and deficiency. Nearly55.8%of the orchards were excess fertilization, and27.8%of the orchards was presenting deficiency. Manure application accounted for72.8kg P2O5/hm2. Deficit and surplus was also presenting. Nearly80%of the orchards had surplus P. Nearly,43%of the orchards had a P surplus of more than300kg P2O5/hm2. More than18.7%of the orchards had a P surplus of more than600kg P2O5/hm2. But nearly20%of the orchards had a P deficit of less than0kg P2O5/hm2, with an average deficit of25.8kg P2O5/hm2. Among the different kinds of orchards, kiwi orchards had the highest P input rate (472.3kg P2O5/hm2) and the highest amount of surplus P (355.6kg P2O5/hm2). In irrigated areas of central Shaanxi Province, the P surplus averaged351.8kg P2O5/hm2, and315.5kg P2O5/hm2in the Weibei rain-fed region. High nutrient inputs to orchards in some regions of Shaanxi Province led to very high soil N and P loading. This will increase environmental risks in the region.2. To evaluate the effect of different fertilization on Fuji apple yield, quality and Soil fertility under long-term located experiment. A8year field experiment from2003to2010was conducted. Seven different treatments, i.e., no fertilizer (CK), inorganic P and K (PK), inorganic N and K (NK), inorganic N and P (NP), swine manure only (M), inorganic N, P and K (NPK), and half inorganic N, P, K combined with half swine manure (NPKM) with three replications were included. The apple quality and yield at each treatment were measured/calculated for comparison. The results showed significant differences between the rational fertilized and CK treatment. Apple yield were increased by14.4%to63.8%under the different fertilization. Furthermore the yield in the NPKM treatment was63.8%more than that in the CK treatment. The apple yield decreased in the order NPKM>NPK≥M>NP≥NK>PK>CK. The sugar to acid (S:A) ratio, Vitamin C, Soluble solid and Hardness showed that NPKM treatment was the best. The sugar to acid (S:A) ratio and vitamin C were increased by30.9%and17.5%with NPKM treatment, respectively. The concentration of SOC in the0to20cm depth was significantly affected by M fertilizer added. Compared to CK, the soil organic C in the NPKM and M treatment were28.8%and29.3%more. And available N was22.7,37.3and53.4%more for0～20,20～40, and40～60cm depths, respectively. Organic fertilizers made a great contribution to improvement of soil available N than chemical fertilizer N in surface soil, but less contribution to soil available P than that of chemical fertilizer phosphorus. The available P was increased by18.7%with the NPK treatment compared to NPKM treatment. Application of organic manure plus balanced fertilization with N, P and K is important to soil fertility and thus enhancing apple yield and apple quality. 3. Yield and quality increase or stagnation and its relationship with soil nutrient in field-grown kiwifruit vines under long-term fertilizer use are not well understood. To understand this seven different treatments, i.e., no fertilizer (CK); no nitrogen with chemical P and K (PK); no phosphorus with chemical N and K (NK); no potassium with chemical N and P (NP); N, P and K chemical fertilizers only (NPK);1.5times N, P and K chemical fertilizers (1.5NPK) and chemical fertilizers plus swine manure (NPKM), with three replications, were included. Fertilization increased kiwifruits yield, with the amount of fertilizers450kg N/hm2,225kgP2O5/hm2,300kgK2O/hm2, we got the high kiwifruit yield and desirable economic benefits. The average yield in the four years under fertilization was increased by6.74%to30.79%, as compared to the CK. The average yield decreased in the order of NPKM (44.6t/hm2)>1.5NPK (42.6t/hm2)> NPK (42.0t/hm2)> NK (38.0t/hm2)> NP (36.7t/hm2)>PK (36.4t/hm2)> CK (34.1t/hm2). The sugar to acid (S:A) ratio was greatest and amounted to10.9in2012, the soluble sugar in NPKM treatment was increased by15.7%after4years test. The Vitamin C, soluble solid and Firmness showed that NPKM treatment had highest values. The concentration of SOC in different soil layers was significantly affected by NPKM fertilizer treatment, compare to the antecedent soil properties in2008, the soil organic C in0～20,20～40and40～60cm depth in the NPKM treatment were27%,29%and139%more respectively, the available N in0-20,20-40and40-60cm depth in the1.5NPK treatment were increased by180%,114%and133%respectively. The data support the conclusion that, wherever feasible and practical, application of organic manure plus balanced fertilization with N, P and K is important to soil fertility and thus enhancing kiwifruit yield quality in field-grown kiwifruit vines4. In order to ascertain the similarities and differences of effects of fertigation on apple production with different types of ecological regions orchard. Two field experiments with six treatments were selected with different ecological regions orchard. NPK tradition, NPK fertigation,1/2NPK fertigation, PK, NK and NP were used to explore the effect of fertigation on apple production, quality and fruit nutrient absorption. The results showed that, with different ecological region, there were obvious differences of effects of fertigation on apple production, due to the different ecological conditions. On the Weibei dry-land, compared to NPK (traditional fertilization), the yield by NPK fertigation treatment was41.14t/hm2, increased by7.7%, and the net income was increased by11.3thousand yuan per hectare. sugar acid ratio increased by15.1%, the N, P and K uptake of fruit increased by36.0%,75.3%and44.8%. While the1/2NPK fertigation did not significantly increase production, improve quality and increase the fruits of nutrient uptake. In the Guanzhong plain, compared with traditional NPK fertilization, the yield of1/2NPK fertigation treatment was78.5t/hm2. The N, P and K uptake of fruit increased41.8%,98.9%and58.9%, however, NPK fertigation merely increased the yield by2.48%, and nutrient uptake of fruit was no significant increased. In the different ecological regions, the fertigation treatments all can increase apple production and improve the quality of apple, but the effectiveness differ due to the different fertility in different region orchard.5. Using2factors4levels quadratic regression orthogonal combination design, Set up different irrigation water and fertilizer impact on apple yield and farmers benefit. A3year field experiment was conducted. The results showed that, the coupling and alternating effects between water and N on the apple yield exist obviously, and the positive effect of nitrogen was greater than the water. The average yield in the three years under the coupling and alternating was increased by7.30%to41.62%, as compared to the CK. With the N2W2treatment, the average yield was41.01t/hm2, the production value was237.9thousand yuan per hectare, and the net income was increased by67.2thousand yuan per hectare. With the N3W1and N3W2treatments, the apple yield increased by38.50and36.65%, respectively. Water and nitrogen coupling could improve the fruit exterior and interior quality. The sugar to acid (S:A) ratio, the Vitamin C, soluble solid and Firmness showed that N2W2treatment had highest values. High N was not favorable to the yield and quality of apple. More water supply was not conducive to apple quality, and maybe cause nitrate leaching. The data support the conclusion that, wherever feasible and practical, application appropriate water and nitrogen coupling was important to apple yield and quality.6. Soil total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen contents in0～100cm soil layer of apple orchards under the water and nitrogen coupling treatment were measured, and profile distributions of soil water content, soil total nitrogen, mineral nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen contents at different fertilizer application experiments were analyzed and compared. The results showed as following:Soil water content in deep soil profiles of differen treatment was significantly different, while it maintained8.53%to20.8%. The contents of soil total nitrogen of apple orchard were higher in0-60cm soil layer and lower below60cm soil layers. With N0W1treatment, the content of soil total nitrogen was lower than other treatments at the same soil layer. The content of soil total nitrogen in the soil profiles was increased significantly as the water increased with the same amount of nitrogen fertilizer, with N3treatment it ranged from1.5to2.5g/kg. The amounts of nitrate nitrogen accumulation in the soil profiles and their extents to leach into the deeper soil layers are increased significantly as the nitrogen fertilizer and water usage increased. The nitrate nitrogen contents in deep soil profiles by different amount of N and water were significantly different. With the NO treatment for three water levels (W1, W2and W3), the nitrate nitrogen contents ranged from40to65mg/kg. And for N1treatment under the three water levels, it ranged from70to110mg/kg. With the N3W3treatment, the nitrate nitrogen content in deep soil profiles were124.7,112.5,98.8,105.3,90.9mg/kg, it was significantly higher than other treatments. While variation of ammonium nitrogen content was relatively lower by all treatments.