Articles
FOLIAR FERTILIZATION TIMING IN ‘FARMACISTA HONORATI’ PERSIMMON (DIOSPYROS KAKI L.) TREES
Article number
721_49
Pages
343 – 347
Language
English
Abstract
Four different foliar fertilizer regimes were tested on nine-year-old trees of Farmacista Honorati persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.) grown in northern Sicily.
Fifty-six trees were sprayed three times from 10 July to 3 August (EARLY; 14 trees), three times from 15 August to 8 September (LATE; 14 trees), or six times throughout the entire period (FULL; 14 trees) with Floral K (12-N:5-P:35-K and microelements). A fourth set of 14 non-treated trees was used as control (CTR). Foliar nutrient concentration, yield and trunk circumference were measured during fall 2003. Fruit quality was determined on each individual fruit which matured on the tree and on 5 fruits per tree stored under controlled conditions.
Foliar analysis indicated similar N, P, Ca, Mg, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn concentrations in leaves of all treatments, whereas CTR leaves exhibited the highest K concentrations and EARLY leaves the lowest concentrations.
EARLY and LATE trees produced more fruit than CTR trees, whereas yield efficiency was similar in all treatments.
For tree ripened fruit, soluble solid concentration was highest in CTR, whereas fresh weight, acidity, and pH were similar in all treatments.
In controlled ripened fruit, pH was lowest in unsprayed CTR-fruit and highest after EARLY sprays, whereas fresh weight, soluble solids and acidity were similar in all treatments.
FULL and LATE-sprays accelerated fruit ripening compared to CTR-treatments, as shown by the higher percentage of tree ripe fruit on the first pick date.
EARLY and LATE foliar fertilization increased yield and reduced soluble solids, possibly as a consequence of the greater crop load.
The lower K concentration in leaves of fertilized trees may be also due to greater demand and translocation to fruit sinks.
Fifty-six trees were sprayed three times from 10 July to 3 August (EARLY; 14 trees), three times from 15 August to 8 September (LATE; 14 trees), or six times throughout the entire period (FULL; 14 trees) with Floral K (12-N:5-P:35-K and microelements). A fourth set of 14 non-treated trees was used as control (CTR). Foliar nutrient concentration, yield and trunk circumference were measured during fall 2003. Fruit quality was determined on each individual fruit which matured on the tree and on 5 fruits per tree stored under controlled conditions.
Foliar analysis indicated similar N, P, Ca, Mg, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn concentrations in leaves of all treatments, whereas CTR leaves exhibited the highest K concentrations and EARLY leaves the lowest concentrations.
EARLY and LATE trees produced more fruit than CTR trees, whereas yield efficiency was similar in all treatments.
For tree ripened fruit, soluble solid concentration was highest in CTR, whereas fresh weight, acidity, and pH were similar in all treatments.
In controlled ripened fruit, pH was lowest in unsprayed CTR-fruit and highest after EARLY sprays, whereas fresh weight, soluble solids and acidity were similar in all treatments.
FULL and LATE-sprays accelerated fruit ripening compared to CTR-treatments, as shown by the higher percentage of tree ripe fruit on the first pick date.
EARLY and LATE foliar fertilization increased yield and reduced soluble solids, possibly as a consequence of the greater crop load.
The lower K concentration in leaves of fertilized trees may be also due to greater demand and translocation to fruit sinks.
Authors
M. Policarpo, S. Tagliavini, R. Lo Bianco, A. De Michele
Keywords
yield efficiency, nutrient concentration, soluble solids
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