Annona Species Monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

Chapter 10. Agronomy
The fertilization of the planting pit varies according to the species and the
soil nutrient levels. In Venezuela, 250 g of NPK 10-10-15 or 10-15-15, and 5
kg of manure is a common recommendation for soursop planting pits
(Araque, 1971). Annona trees are sensitive to low soil pH and this should be
adjusted to pH 6.0 if necessary, using either dolomite or calcitic lime before
planting out.
For wild soursop, which has not yet reached orchard status, fairly general
recommendations on fertilizers are available: compound NPK + Mg at rates
of up to 100 g/tree every 3 months (FAO, 1988). Similarly on sugar apple in
India, fertilizer can be applied at the start of the monsoon at the rate of 250 g
N and 125 g P and 125 g K per tree (Anon., 1981).
Fertilizer rates and timing need to be adjusted according to the tree age and
the species. Ibar (1979) describes the fertilization schedule for cherimoya
orchards during the juvenile period (from 1st to 3rd year) according to tree
age (Table 10-4). However, the schedule for fertilization of the vegetative
phase would be much more accurate if the amount of fertilizer applied were
based on the soil nutrient content (Table 10-5 and Table 10-6) (Silva and
Silva, 1997).
Table 10-4. Recommendation of NPK fertilization for cherimoya in
Spain based on tree age after planting during the first three years of
orchard establishment
Age after planting
(years)
Nitrogen (of
N/plant)
Phosphorus (of
P 2
O 5
/plant)
Potassium (of
K 2
O/plant)
0-1 240 120 120
1-2 360 180 180
2-3 480 240 240
Source: Ibar (1979).
Table 10-5. Recommendation of P and K for soursop trees of different
ages according to the amount of N fertilization applied (g/plant) and
levels of P 2 0 5 and K 2 0 in the soil analysis in the semi-arid region of Brazil
Tree Age N g of P 2
O 5
/plant g of K 2
O/plant
Phosphorus in the soil (µg/cm³) Potassium in the soil
(µg/cm³)
0-10 11-20 > 20 0-45 46-90 > 90
0-1 year 40 - - - 60 40 30
1-2 years 80 80 60 40 80 60 40
3-4 years 120 120 80 60 120 80 60
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