Articles
Effect of nitrogen fertilization on fruit production and quality of pomegranate (‘Wonderful’)
Article number
1254_34
Pages
227 – 234
Language
English
Abstract
The effect of various nitrogen (N) treatments on yield, fruit and juice quality, as well as nutrient concentrations in leaves were investigated in 2014. The experiment was carried out in the southern part of Greece (Lakonia) in a commercial pomegranate orchard with ‘Wonderful’. Initially (February) 700 g tree‑1 of a fertilizer containing 12% N, 11% P2O5 and 18% K2O, was applied to all experimental trees and was used as a control (N0). Later in the spring, five N treatments per tree were applied as follows: 50 g (N1) in one dose, 100 g (N2) in one dose, 200 g (N3) in two doses (100+100), 300 g (N4) in three doses (100+100+100) and 500 g (N5) in three doses (200+200+100). The time between each dose was about 20 days.
Additionally, two leaf collections were performed during the summer and analysis of nutrients (N, P, K, Na, B, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe) was carried out.
The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with four replications.
The results showed that the highest N treatment (N5) led to significantly higher fruit weight than the control (N0) and other N treatments, except those of N3 and N4. Treatment N5 led to significantly higher total fruit weight per tree than the control and other N treatments.
The values of total aril weight per fruit and juice content (g juice per fruit) were also highest in N5 treatment, significantly different from the control and N2 treatment but similar to other N treatments.
In contrast, percentage juice content of the fruit, total titratable acidity and TSS were not affected by the N treatments.
The external fruit color as measured using a Minolta CR-300 Chroma Meter (factors L*, a*, b*) and the concentrations of nutrients in leaves were not affected by the treatments, with the exception of K in the first leaf collection.
Significant changes were recorded for some nutrients between first and second leaf collection.
Additionally, two leaf collections were performed during the summer and analysis of nutrients (N, P, K, Na, B, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn and Fe) was carried out.
The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with four replications.
The results showed that the highest N treatment (N5) led to significantly higher fruit weight than the control (N0) and other N treatments, except those of N3 and N4. Treatment N5 led to significantly higher total fruit weight per tree than the control and other N treatments.
The values of total aril weight per fruit and juice content (g juice per fruit) were also highest in N5 treatment, significantly different from the control and N2 treatment but similar to other N treatments.
In contrast, percentage juice content of the fruit, total titratable acidity and TSS were not affected by the N treatments.
The external fruit color as measured using a Minolta CR-300 Chroma Meter (factors L*, a*, b*) and the concentrations of nutrients in leaves were not affected by the treatments, with the exception of K in the first leaf collection.
Significant changes were recorded for some nutrients between first and second leaf collection.
Authors
K.G. Meletis, S.N. Vemmos, I.E. Papadakis, N. Moustakas, D. Ioannou
Keywords
Punica granatum, acidity, TSS, fruit color, nutrients, yield, fruit weight
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