How should magnesium fertilizer be applied? Magnesium fertilizer application techniques
Release Date：
2026-01-04
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Abstract
(1) Application Rate of Magnesium Fertilizer
The application of magnesium fertilizer should be determined based on the magnesium deficiency status of the soil and plants. When soils and plants are analyzed and found to be deficient in magnesium, the application of magnesium fertilizer will yield good results, particularly for crops with high magnesium requirements, where the response is even more pronounced. For such high-magnesium-demand crops—such as sugarcane, pineapple, oil palm, banana, as well as cotton, tobacco, potato, and maize—it is generally recommended to apply 10–15 kg of magnesium sulfate per 667 square meters. For citrus trees, during the peak fruiting stage, 0.2–0.3 kg can be applied as a basal application per tree; foliar spraying with a 1%–2% magnesium sulfate solution is also effective, at a rate of 25–50 kg of spray solution per 667 square meters. According to research by Liu Changzhi, applying 5–75 kg of magnesium sulfate per 667 square meters to rapeseed produces excellent results. Similarly, Lin Qimin’s research indicates that applying 7.5 kg of magnesium sulfate per 667 square meters to paddy rice grown in red-soil paddy soils yields favorable outcomes.
(2) Soil Alkalinity and Variety
Different types of magnesium fertilizers exhibit distinct chemical properties; therefore, when applying them, it is essential to consider the soil’s pH, aiming for near-neutral or slightly alkaline conditions. In soils with low sulfur content, magnesium sulfate and magnesium chloride are preferable, whereas in acidic soils, magnesium carbonate is the better choice. Xie Jianchang et al. (1963) conducted a millet fertilization trial on acidic red soils in southern China, demonstrating that among four magnesium fertilizers, magnesium carbonate exhibited the highest fertilizer efficacy for millet, followed in descending order by magnesium carbonate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium chloride, and magnesium sulfate. On magnesium-deficient acidic soils, applying quicklime produced from dolomite is an ideal magnesium fertilizer, as it not only supplies magnesium nutrition to crops but also helps neutralize soil acidity. In addition, wood ash, potassium-magnesium fertilizer, and calcium–magnesium phosphate fertilizer are also excellent sources of magnesium.
(3) Other Factors to Consider When Applying Magnesium Fertilizer
In general, soils that are highly acidic, have a coarse texture, experience intense leaching, contain low levels of magnesium in the parent material, or have received excessive applications of lime or potassium fertilizer are prone to magnesium deficiency and should therefore be prioritized for magnesium fertilization. For the same crop, varieties with high yields and biomass are also more susceptible to magnesium deficiency and thus warrant priority in magnesium application. Moreover, the form of nitrogen fertilizer applied to magnesium-deficient soils can influence the crop’s magnesium nutrition to some extent. Reports indicate that the severity of magnesium deficiency decreases in the following order: ammonium sulfate, urea, ammonium nitrate, and calcium nitrate. Magnesium fertilizer can be applied as a base dressing, incorporated into the soil, or foliar-sprayed; all methods are effective. Combining chemical magnesium fertilizer with organic manure often yields better results than using either alone, making such combined applications highly recommended.
Keywords:
Zhibao Wang Fertilizer Industry | Agricultural Chemical Fertilizers
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Shanxi Zhibaowang Fertilizer Co., Ltd. produces more than 50,000 tons of various fertilizers annually, providing products to nearly a dozen provinces and cities, as well as Southeast Asian countries.
