Soursop Planting Techniques and Specialized Fertilizer

According to farming households in Dong Thap, soursop is currently selling for 50,000 – 65,000 VND depending on fruit quality. This price is said to be a record high in many years in Vietnam. Below is an article on specialized fertilizer for soursop trees and planting techniques for high effectiveness and yield.

Experts explain that the rise in soursop prices is due to very strong market demand. Besides the “soursop tea” craze among young people, products such as soursop cakes, candies, jams, concentrates and soft-dried soursop are popular in both domestic and international markets, sharply increasing the value of this fruit.

Given its high nutritional value and economic returns, many farmers want to learn how to grow and fertilize soursop trees. So, please read on with Viet Nga Fertilizer!

Besides soursop tea, cakes and candies made from soursop are also very popular. Source: Vietnam Women's Newspaper.

Let's learn about specialized fertilizer for soursop trees and the growing conditions they need:

1. Suitable Conditions for Soursop Growth and Development

1.1. Temperature

As a tropical crop, soursop grows well in areas with plenty of rain, high humidity, little cold and temperatures ranging from 25 – 32°C.

1.2. Light

As a light-loving tree, soursop gives high yields and resists pests and diseases well when exposed to plenty of light.

1.3. Soil

– Soursop can be grown on many different soil types, such as alluvial soil and acid sulfate soil,… with a pH of 4.5 – 6.5.

– Trees should be spaced 3 x 3 m apart, planted in rows, averaging 750 – 1,000 trees/ha so that they absorb nutrients and grow best.

1.4. Variety Selection

– When propagating from seed, farmers should select soursop trees that bear many fruits with uniform, attractive fruit and plenty of flesh, and use the seeds of those fruits for seedlings.

– In areas with high water levels and frequent waterlogging such as the Mekong Delta, grafting onto pond apple (binh bat) rootstock should be used. This helps the tree adapt better to acid sulfate soil, drought, waterlogging,…

2. How to Fertilize Soursop Trees Effectively

7 – 14 days before planting, dig holes measuring 40 x 60 x 30 cm. Apply 10 – 15 kg of Goneco 06 or GRONN 75% organic fertilizer and 300 – 500 g of NPK 16-16-8+TE Viet Nga per hole, mixed with enough topsoil to fill the hole.

2.1. Non-Bearing Period

Apply 500 g of NPK 20-20-15+TE Viet Nga per tree, then increase by 300 g each year until the tree is 9 years old, after which keep the rate unchanged (~3 kg of fertilizer/tree)

Split the above amount into 2 applications at the beginning and end of the rainy season. Dissolve the fertilizer in irrigation water, or lightly loosen the soil around the base, spread the fertilizer and then water.

2.2. Bearing Period

Organic fertilizer: apply 10 – 20 kg/tree/year of Goneco 06 or Nauy Gronn to maintain fertility and keep the soil loose.

Apply chemical fertilizer in 3 rounds, adjusted to each growth stage of the tree:

– 1st application: After harvest and orchard cleaning, the tree needs plenty of nitrogen and phosphorus; apply 2 – 4 kg of NPK 20-20-15+TE Viet Nga or NPK 16-16-8+TE Viet Nga per tree.

– 2nd application: 30 – 40 days before flowering, the tree needs plenty of phosphorus and potassium. Use two fertilizers, DAP 18-46 Viet Nga and Kali Clorua 61 Viet Nga, at 2 – 4 kg/tree each.

During flowering and fruit set, supplement the tree with Ca, zinc and boron to improve fruit set. Viet Nga Fertilizer recommends Canxi Nitrate Viet Nga or Trung Luong Viet Nga (secondary nutrient fertilizer) at a rate of 100 – 300 g/ha per application.

– 3rd application: After fruit set, increase potassium for large, sweet, thick-fleshed fruit. Farmers can use NPK 20-5-25+TE Viet Nga or NPK 15-5-20+TE at a rate of 2 – 4 kg/tree.

In addition to fertilizing to supply nutrients suited to each growth stage, watch for common problems on the tree such as anthracnose, fruit rot, leaf-eating caterpillars, thrips, red spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, root rot, branch dieback,…

Above are the most effective, highest-yielding soursop planting techniques. We wish farmers success in applying them, with bountiful harvests and good prices!

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