Is it better to use water-soluble fertilizer or compound fertilizer for fruit trees (can compound fertilizer be mixed with water to water fruit trees)?

I grow apples. As for whether chemical fertilizers or water-soluble fertilizers are better for fruit trees, I think each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The choice should be made based on the different requirements of fruit trees for fertilizers at different stages. Let me share my opinion.

The difference between chemical fertilizer and water-soluble fertilizer

We generally refer to various chemical fertilizers as large fertilizers, such as urea, diamine, various compound fertilizers, etc.

By definition, water-soluble fertilizers are fertilizers that can be completely dissolved in water. I will not go into detail about the specific concepts and classifications of the two, but will only talk about the differences between them here.

In fact, the elements contained in chemical fertilizers and water-soluble fertilizers are similar. It is not that chemical fertilizers contain elements that water-soluble fertilizers do not have, or vice versa. The main difference between them lies in their quick effect and durability.

Relatively speaking, the effectiveness of chemical fertilizers is slightly worse than that of water-soluble fertilizers, but their durability is better than that of water-soluble fertilizers.

How to choose chemical fertilizer or water-soluble fertilizer

Fruit trees have different requirements for fertilizers at different growth stages, and the fertilization methods are not static. We cannot generalize that chemical fertilizers are better or water-soluble fertilizers are better. We must make decisions based on the specific circumstances of the fruit trees.

Take apple trees as an example. Apples are about to be bagged now. Before bagging, many fruit farmers will apply top dressing to the apple trees. At this time, because there is a stage in the later stage when the spring shoots stop growing and the flower buds differentiate, it is necessary to control water and fertilizer.

Therefore, not only should fertilizer be applied early, but it should also be quick-acting. The fertilizer effect is not required to be long-lasting, or even required to be shorter. In this case, water-soluble fertilizer is the best choice.

When applying base fertilizer in autumn, the chemical fertilizer applied together with organic fertilizer requires that the fertilizer effect last longer, and there are not so many requirements for quick effectiveness. It is more appropriate to choose large chemical fertilizer at this time.

The choice between chemical fertilizers and water-soluble fertilizers should be tailored to the tree. It should be noted that water-soluble fertilizers are different from what people usually call flushing fertilizers. When purchasing water-soluble fertilizers, special attention should be paid to distinguishing the authenticity.

Can compound fertilizer be dissolved in water and then used to water fruit trees?

Compound fertilizer can be diluted with water before watering, but it should not be poured on the leaves of plants to avoid burns. Compound fertilizer is divided into three different concentrations: high, medium and low.

Taking the compound fertilizer containing 15-16% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as an example, when applied to fruit trees, 1 gram of compound fertilizer can be diluted with 100 ml of water; when applied to vegetables, 1 gram of compound fertilizer can be diluted with 200 ml of water.