Europe PMC · 2026-04-17
Researchers used geostatistical mapping to chart how different forms of soil potassium vary across highland apple orchards, then used those maps to design targeted fertilization plans that boosted both apple yields and fruit quality more efficiently than blanket fertilizer applications.
Soil potassium levels varied significantly across spatial zones within highland orchards, confirming that uniform fertilizer application is inefficient in these landscapes.
Geostatistical models successfully identified distinct potassium fraction hotspots and deficient zones, enabling site-specific fertilization prescriptions.
Targeted potassium fertilization based on spatial maps improved both apple productivity and measurable fruit quality indicators compared to conventional uniform-rate applications.
