Effects of Slow-Release Fertilizer on Growth, Yield, and Quality of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. ‘Huizao’

TL;DR

This study shows that using slow-release fertilizer improves the growth, yield, and quality of Ziziphus jujuba in southern Xinjiang.

Contribution

The study demonstrates the effectiveness of bag-controlled slow-release fertilizer in sandy loam soil for jujube cultivation.

Findings

BCSRF maintained soil nutrient levels during key growth periods, especially under the T3 treatment.

T3 treatment increased plant yield by 39.34% and improved soluble sugar and cyclic adenosine monophosphate content.

Applying BCSRF in sandy loam soil enhances soil fertility and fruit quality with a single basal application.

Abstract

Aiming at the problems of tree vigor decline and unstable fruit quality caused by soil impoverishment and easy nutrient loss in the Ziziphus jujuba Mill. ‘Huizao’ (Huizao) producing areas of southern Xinjiang, the application effect of bag-controlled slow-release fertilizer (BCSRF) in this region remains unclear. In this study, a field experiment was conducted with four fertilization concentration gradients, including CK (0 kg/ha), T1 (22 kg/ha), T2 (44 kg/ha), and T3 (66 kg/ha), to investigate the effects of BCSRF on soil nutrient dynamics and plant growth, as well as the fruit yield and quality of Huizao. The results showed that BCSRF could effectively maintain the supply levels of soil alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium during key growth periods, among which the T3 treatment exhibited the most significant effect. This treatment not only significantly increased the yield per plant of Huizao by 39.34% compared with the control, but also markedly enhanced the contents of the endogenous substance, including soluble sugar and cyclic adenosine monophosphate. This study confirms that under the condition of sandy loam soil in southern Xinjiang, a single basal application of an appropriate amount of BCSRF can achieve continuous nutrient supply, simultaneously improve soil fertility and fruit quality, providing a theoretical basis and technical guidance for simplified and efficient fertilization in local jujube orchards.

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