Injection Fertilization: A Full Nutritional Technique for Fruit Trees Saves 90-95% of Fertilizers and Maintains a Clean Environment

摘要

Several experiments were carried out in Egypt and Germany to study whether fruit shrubs and trees can be fertilized by injection through the trunk. Results showed that dicotyledonous vascular trees (mango and grapevine) can be fully fertilized by injection through xylem. Only 5-10% of the levels used in soil fertilization were sufficient for good growth and high yield. Growth of the injection-fertilized mango (Mangifera indica var. 'Sukkary white') trees was 20-25% higher than soil-fertilized plantswhile in grapevine (Vitis vinifera vars. 'White Riesling' and 'Spaet Burgunder') fruit yield increases were 32-49% higher compared to soil fertilization. Fruit quality of grapevine clusters assessed (juice Brix, pH, reduced sugars, total acidity, grape vinegar, apple vinegar, ethanol and glycerin content) of the plants fertilized through injection was better than those fertilized through soil. Grapevine fresh juice content of the reduced sugars and ethanol increased by 7.5-11.9 and 41.4-50%, respectively while the total acidity decreased by 6.2-19.7%. Using injection fertilization, there was no need to control weeds because they never competed with tree roots for nutrient absorption. Since there is no soil fertilization, there was no use of herbicidesor pesticides, nor leaching of these compounds to underground water, which was expected to be clean enough to be used as drinking water with no or less health hazards. This technique was registered as a patent in the Egyptian Academy for Scientific Research and Technology number 23750 in July, 2007.