ISHS Acta Horticulturae 665: II International Symposium on Lychee, Longan, Rambutan and other Sapindaceae Plants
NPK NUTRITION DYNAMICS OF LYCHEE DURING THE ANNUAL GROWTH CYCLES |
| Authors: | X.L. Fan, C.L. Huang, U. Juhani, D. Danny |
| Keywords: | balanced fertilization plan, compound fertilizer, shoot maturation, flower bud differentiation, topdressings, fruiting shoots |
| Abstract:
Two-year field trials were carried out to study N, P and K nutrition state of ‘HeiYe’ lychee and their dynamic changes in the annual growth cycle. The aim was to formulate a balanced fertilization plan using three compound fertilizers: high N, high P and K, and high K. The results showed that NPK nutrients level nearly reached minimum at time of harvest in the annual growth cycle. The NPK nutrition level recovered rapidly after fertilization with Kemira GrowHow Superstar high N compound fertilizer at the harvest stage and reached the maximum level in the annual growth cycle at autumn shoot maturation to flower bud differentiation stage. Then, the NPK level dropped and reached the lowest level again at blossoming to new harvest stage. Two topdressings after fruit setting were beneficial to renew NPK nutrient levels consumed during fruit development. The NPK level in autumn and fruiting shoots related to growth season. However, fertilizer dosage and the N:P:K ratio had a little influence on the nutrition level. The N, P, K content in the leaves of fruiting shoots was in the order of N>K>P for each growth stage. The maximum value of the N:P:K ratio was found at blossoming to harvest stage. Great amount of NPK stored in leaves consumed from flower differentiation to fruit developing stage, especially at blossoming stage. The relative P and K content decreased about 12.8 to 41.5% and 0.9 to 30.3% respectively. Therefore, the N:P:K ratio of fertilizer used and the dosage should follow the requirement or nutrition characteristic of lychee tree in the annual growth cycle. Fertilizing lychee with high N, high P and K and high K Kemira GrowHow Superstar compounds at harvest, autumn shoots maturation and fruit setting stage respectively was capable to keep NPK nutrition level in leaves of fruiting shoots within the annual growth cycle. | |
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