Laiyang Pear, also known as the "Pear of Laiyang," has a long history of cultivation in the area around Luer Port, located in Zhaowangzhuang Town, Laiyang City, Shandong Province. For nearly 400 years, this unique variety has been grown in the region, and its cultivation has spread to neighboring areas like Qixia and Haiyang. The fruit is also cultivated outside of Shandong, though it remains most closely associated with its native land.
The Laiyang Pear is distinctive in appearance: it has a short, scoop-like shape, a yellow-green skin, and large, visible fruit spots. Its surface often shows some flaky brown rust, which makes it less visually appealing. However, its flavor is exceptional—aromatic, tender, crisp, juicy, and sweet, with very few stone cells. This high quality has earned it a top reputation both within China and internationally, making it one of the most renowned Chinese pear varieties. Despite the introduction of many foreign pear varieties in recent decades, none can match the original Laiyang Pear in terms of taste and quality.
However, since the 1980s, the quality of Laiyang Pears has significantly declined. The fruit now has thick skin, hard kernels, and lacks fragrance and sweetness. It no longer has the same crispness or juiciness that once made it famous. Even though the land, the trees, and the varieties have remained unchanged, the quality has fallen dramatically. Why has this happened?
To investigate, the author visited Laiyang and Qixia several times, inspecting orchards and speaking with local farmers. It became clear that the decline in quality was largely due to improper fertilization practices. Since the early 1980s, many orchards have relied heavily on chemical fertilizers, particularly nitrogen-based ones like urea and ammonium bicarbonate. Farmers believed that applying more nitrogen would result in larger fruits, regardless of taste, thinking that higher yields would lead to greater profits.
This approach contradicts scientific principles, which emphasize balanced fertilization to ensure not only high yield but also superior quality. Unfortunately, many farmers remain stuck in this outdated mindset, favoring nitrogen over other essential nutrients. Over time, this has led to serious soil degradation.
In the past 30 years, the heavy use of chemical fertilizers has caused severe depletion of organic matter in the soil, leading to compaction, poor aeration, and reduced microbial activity. This has damaged soil fertility. Excessive nitrogen application has also caused excessive vegetative growth, resulting in long, thin branches that do not accumulate enough nutrients. This affects both fruit size and quality. The traditional short fruit branches that once produced high-quality pears have been replaced by long-stemmed flower buds.
Moreover, the imbalance in nutrient supply has led to deficiencies in trace elements, such as boron. Boron plays a crucial role in sugar transport within the plant. When it is deficient, sugar movement is disrupted, causing necrosis in young fruit tissues and leading to corky flesh. This results in the loss of the original flavor and texture of Laiyang Pears.
Before the 1970s, Laiyang Pears were primarily fertilized using farmyard manure, which provided a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and essential micronutrients. Long-term use of organic fertilizer helped maintain soil health, promoting strong root systems, short and thick branches, and abundant fruit-bearing shoots. As a result, yields were stable and high, with some orchards producing over 5,000 kilograms per mu (approximately 667 square meters).
In Qixia’s Xiaoguan Village, for example, there are large-scale orchards where average yields exceed 4,000 kg per mu, with some reaching up to 10,925 kg per mu. These results highlight the importance of proper fertilization and sustainable farming practices.
Today, consumers worldwide are calling for a return to the original flavor of Laiyang Pear. For farmers, this means shifting away from chemical dependency and embracing organic methods. By updating their fertilization concepts, farmers can improve both the quality and market value of their produce.
Key steps include using fermented organic fertilizers like compost, animal manure, and crop residues, and supplementing with borax and calcium during critical growth stages. Spraying foliar fertilizers rich in boron and calcium can also help restore fruit quality.
With consistent effort over two to three years, it is possible to revive the legendary flavor of Laiyang Pear and reestablish its world-renowned reputation.
*Expert Note: Professor Bao Mingsheng, a senior researcher at the Jinan Forestry Bureau in Shandong Province, specializes in fruit tree cultivation and management. He has provided guidance to farmers across the country for many years and is highly respected in the agricultural community.*
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