Post plant recommendations
The tables below give recommendations for fertiliser rates to apply to jujubes post planting. These recommendations have been modified from general recommendations for deciduous fruit orchards.
Table 6 gives suggested rates in grams of element per tree. The user can then decide which fertilisers they wish to use to supply that amount of each element and work out the rate required based on the percentage of each element in that fertiliser.
The rates are for an orchard with a tree spacing of 4 m x 2 m or similar. For higher density orchards (e.g. 3 m x 1.5 m) the fertiliser rates (g/tree) listed below will need to be reduced for mature trees due to the smaller tree size.
Using proprietary NPK plus trace element fertilisers provides an easy approach to fertilising. They are generally formulated in ratios that are suitable for most horticultural crops. Table 7 gives recommendations for fertilising jujubes when using NPK plus trace element fertilisers.
| Tree age | Rate and time of application |
| Years 1 to 3 | Conduct leaf and soil analysis and use the results to modify the general recommendations listed in this table.
Apply: 20 g nitrogen per year of tree age (e.g. in Year 2 apply 40 g of N/tree) 10 g of phosphorus per year of tree age 20 g of potassium per year of tree age 5 g of magnesium per year of tree age
Apply nitrogen, potassium and magnesium via fertigation in 7 equal monthly applications from September to March (e.g. in Year 1 apply 7 applications of 3 g of N/tree).
Phosphorus can be applied in one application in winter or throughout the season. However, on white sands apply in more than one application as phosphorus can leach on these soils.
|
| Year 4 onwards | 60 - 120 g of nitrogen annually per tree (depending on tree size)
30 g of phosphorus annually per tree Phosphorus can be applied in one application in winter or throughout the season. However, on white sands apply in more than one application as phosphorus can leach on these soils.
80 - 150 g of potassium annually per tree Apply from September to April or at the same time as the nitrogen.
30 g of magnesium annually per tree Apply the magnesium from September to April or at the same time as the nitrogen.
If leaf analysis results show low calcium or sulphur levels apply gypsum in one Spring application. Alternatively, use fertilisers which contain these elements such as calcium nitrate, potassium sulphate and magnesium sulphate.
If leaf analysis results show low trace element levels apply the deficient element to the soil and/or as a foliar application. |
| Tree age | Rate and time of application |
|
Years 1 to 3 | Conduct leaf and soil analysis and use the results to modify the general recommendations listed in this table.
150 g per year of tree age of a NPK plus trace element fertiliser (12-4-15 or similar mix). For example, in Year 2 apply 300 g of fertiliser/tree/year.
Apply a soluble mixed fertiliser via fertigation in 7 monthly applications from September to March (e.g. in Year 1 apply 7 applications of 22 g of fertiliser/tree).
For sprinkler irrigated orchards without fertigation equipment a non-fertigation grade NPK fertiliser can be applied by hand to the wetting pattern at the monthly intervals suggested above. Spread the fertiliser over the whole root zone. |
| Year 4 onwards | Conduct leaf and soil analysis and use the results to modify the general recommendations listed in this table.
500 - 1000 g per tree of a NPK plus trace element fertiliser, depending on tree size (12-4-15 or similar mix).
Apply a soluble mixed fertiliser via fertigation in 5 monthly applications (September, October, November, December, and then one application immediately following harvest). For example, apply 5 applications over the year each of 200 g of fertiliser/tree. Don’t apply nitrogen in the 8 weeks before harvest as it may cause fruit quality issues.
For sprinkler irrigated orchards without fertigation equipment a non-fertigation grade NPK fertiliser can be applied by hand to the wetting pattern at the monthly intervals suggested above. Spread the fertiliser over the whole root zone.
If leaf analysis results show low calcium or sulphur levels apply gypsum in one Spring application.
If leaf analysis results show low trace element levels apply the deficient element to the soil and/or as a foliar application. |
Acknowledgements
This work was carried out by independant agronomist Neil Lantzke through the Perth NRM Healthy Soils Healthy Rivers program and supported by AgriFutures Australia.
References
Mengjun Liu (2006) ‘Chinese Jujube: Botany and horticulture.’ Horticultural Reviews Vol 32, Edited by Jules Janick. John Wiley and Sons.
San B., Yildirim, A.N., Polat, M. and Yildirim, F. (2009). ‘Mineral composition of leaves and fruits of some promising Jujube (Zizyphus jujube MiIlar) Genotypes’. Asian Journal of chemistry Vol 21, No 4 2898 – 2902.
Wang. Z., Li. N. and Quan. L (2014). ‘Effects of water and fertiliser coupling on the yield and quality of drip irrigated Chinese jujube in an extreme arid region.’ Advanced Journal of Food Science and Technology 6 (5) 634- 637.