Objective The aim was to investigate the soil nutrient status of citrus orchards in Meishan, Sichuan Province, in order to guide citrus fertilization.

Method 207 soil samples were collected from five citrus producing areas, namely Dongpo District, Renshou District, Danling District, Pengshan District and Qingshen District, and the nutrients in these soil samples were determined in 2022.

Result The results showed that the overall variation ranges of soil samples pH in citrus orchards were 3.68 ~ 8.33, 12.56% had a pH most conducive to citrus growth (5.5 to 6.5). While soil samples with pH falling within the ranges of strong acidity, acidity, neutrality, and alkalinity accounted for 17.87%, 27.05%, 17.39%, and 25.12% of the total sample set, respectively. Soil organic matter was generally deficient, with 53.62% of soil samples being at below low levels. The mean values of soil alkaline hydrolyzable nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, available calcium, available magnesium, available iron, available manganese, available zinc, available copper, and available boron were 100.14 mg kg⁻¹, 48.37 mg kg⁻¹, 194.30 mg kg⁻¹, 2614.73 mg kg⁻¹, 176.44 mg kg⁻¹, 54.99 mg kg⁻¹, 71.67 mg kg⁻¹, 5.18 mg kg⁻¹, 1.33 mg kg⁻¹ and 0.75 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. In general, 57.49% of soil samples alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen content was in the low or lacking range. The contents of available iron, manganese, copper and boron were abundant (high and excessive), the proportions were 70.05%, 84.54%, 52.17% and 50.24%, respectively. The contents of available phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc was mainly suitable, and the proportions were 43.00%, 51.21%, 53.14%, 49.76% and 44.44%, respectively. The regional characteristics of soil nutrient status in Meishan could be divided into the northeast and southwest. The northeast includes Pengshan, Renshou and the north of Dongpo. The main characteristics were soil with low nitrogen, high calcium and high magnesium, and soil samples pH were mainly neutral (29.57%) and alkaline (42.61%), with an average value of 6.87. Soil organic matter was mainly suitable (58.70%). The southwest, including Danling, Qingshen and Dongpo, was mainly characterized by acidic soil with high iron, high manganese, low zinc and low boron. The soil pH was mainly strong acid (38.04%) and slightly acidic (53.49%), with an average value of 4.88. The soil organic matter was relatively lacking, and 69.57% of orchards was below the suitable value.

Conclusion The soil nutrient status of citrus orchard in different regions of Meishan was quite different, so soil improvement and fertilization should be carried out in different regions.