Effects of fertilizers and irrigation water on the growth and yield of gum plantations (Sterculia foetida L.) in the South Central arid region

Abstract

Research results on the research of fertilizers and irrigation water on
growth and gum yield of 4-year-old Sterculia foetida L. plantations in the
arid South Central region show that although Sterculia foetida L. is a plant
with a wide ecological range, well adapted to harsh conditions such as low
rainfall, high temperature, nutrient-poor soil... However, when planting
Sterculia foetida L. forest intensively for gum, it is necessary to fertilize
and water to shorten the construction period and increase gum production.
The results showed that when priming each hole with 2.0 kg of manure +
0.2 kg of NPK fertilizer or 0.5 kg of microbial fertilizer, then was covered
by straw that helped plants growed more quickly, the number of trees
reaching the size of to harvest gum were 24 trees, the total amount of gum
collected were 1.532,7 g, 2,5 times more than the control without
appilication. In the first year, it is necessary to water with a dose of 40
liters/per plant, every 2 weeks during, 7 months in the dry season, the
survival rates reached to 96.8% as compared to 63.5% survival rate in the
without irrigation treatment; the number of trees reaching size to collect
gum were 17,3 trees and total gum harvested were 1.506,8 g; 4 times and 6
times as compared to the without irrigation treatment.