Compound fertilizer alone (even with trace elements) is usually not sufficient for durian if you want stable yields, good fruit quality, and long-term tree health. You can reduce foliar sprays, but completely skipping them is risky in most real farm conditions.

Here’s the practical, cost–labour–yield balanced truth:

1. What Compound Fertilizer Can Do Well ✅

A good compound NPK + trace element fertilizer can reliably supply:

• Macronutrients:
  • Nitrogen (N) → leaf & canopy growth
  • Phosphorus (P) → rooting & flowering
  • Potassium (K) → fruit size, sweetness, disease resistance
• Basic Trace Elements (small amounts):
  • Mg, Ca, B, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu

For: Young trees (0–3 years)；Maintenance nutrition；Vegetative growth phase

Compound fertilizer is the foundation and should never be skipped.

2. Why Foliar Spray Still Matters for Durian ?

Durian has 3 big nutritional problems that soil fertilizer alone often can’t solve efficiently:

(A) Poor Uptake in Tropical Soils

Many durian soils have:

• Acidic pH
• High leaching from rain
• Nutrient lock-up (especially Boron, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc)

Even if your fertilizer contains trace elements:

• The roots may not absorb enough
• Symptoms appear only when it’s already too late

(B) Critical Stages Need Fast Correction

Foliar spray works 10–20× faster than root uptake during:

• Pre-flowering
• Fruit set
• Fruit sizing
• Post-harvest recovery

Without foliar fertilizer :

• Poor flower retention
• High fruit drop
• Hollow core / watery flesh
• Weak aroma
• Low Brix (less sweet)

(C) Boron (B) & Calcium (Ca) Are Special Cases

These two:

• Move very poorly in soil
• Are critical for durian fruit structure

Deficiency causes:

• Misshapen fruit；Thick skinWeak pulp texture；Internal browning
• Soil fertilizer alone is unreliable for B & Ca.

3. If You Want to Minimize Labour & Cost (Smart Compromise ✅)

Instead of frequent spraying, use this low-labour strategy:

✅ Soil Fertilizer (Main Workhorse)

• 4–6 rounds per year (bearing tree)
• High K during fruiting
• With Mg + trace elements included

✅ Minimal Foliar Spray (Only 2–3 Times/Year)

• Just at high-impact stages:

1. Pre-flowering
2. After fruit set
3.  Fruit bulking (optional, if aiming premium grade)

This cuts:

• Labour by ~60–70%
• Chemical cost by ~50%
• But keeps fruit quality & yield stable

4. When Can You Almost Skip Foliar Spray?

You may reduce to near-zero only if all conditions below are met:

✅ Fertile, well-buffered soil
✅ Strong organic matter & microbial activity
✅ Regular dolomite & boron soil correction
✅ Drip fertigation with fully soluble micronutrients
✅ Low rainfall leaching environment

In most Southeast Asian open-field durian farms, this is rare.

5. Real-World Outcome Comparison

Bottom-Line Recommendation (Practical & Commercial)

• Use compound fertilizer as your base, but do NOT fully eliminate foliar spray.
• Reduce it to only 2–3 strategic sprays per year for the best cost–labour–profit ratio.

This is exactly what most commercial Musang King & export-focused farms are doing now.

Source: Professional Platform
Note: For Reference Only

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