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Effects of different potassium fertilizer application periods on the yield and quality of Fuji apple.

LU Yong-li1,2, YANG Xian-long1,2, LI Ru3, LI Shui-li3, TONG Yan-an1,2   

  1. (1College of Resources and Environmental Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; 2Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agrienvironment in Northwest China, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China; 3Soil and Fertilizer Station of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710003, China)
  • Online:2015-04-18 Published:2015-04-18

Abstract:

In order to ascertain the effects of potassium fertilizer application periods on apple production, we conducted a field experiment and analyzed the differences in apple yield, fruit quality, potassium fertilizer use efficiency, and nutrient concentrations in leaves and fruits among treatments with differences in timing of  potassium application. The results indicated that, compared with no potassiumapplied treatment (CK), all potassium fertilizer application treatments significantly increased the apple yield by 4.3%-33.2%, meanwhile, it also obviously improved the fruit quality. In comparison with the application of 100% potassium fertilizer as a base, the application of 50% or 100% of potassium fertilizer at the fruit enlargement stage (the remaining 50% applied as a base or after flowering) significantly increased the apple yield by 20.5%-27.7% and improved the fruit quality. Compared with the application 100% potassium fertilizer  at the stage of fruit enlargement, the evenly split application as base  flowering stage and  at the fruit enlargement stage not only contributed to a higher yield, better quality and higher potassium use efficiency, but also maintained a relatively stable potassium concentration level in leaves. However, the split potassium fertilizer application at the flowering and fruit enlargement stages resulted in the significant decrease in concentration of calcium in fruit, which would be negative to fruit quality. In conclusion,  our research suggested that evenly split application of potassium fertilizer as a base and  at the fruit enlargement stage was the suitable period for apple production in Fuji apple orchards in this region.