Effect of Potassium and Boron Fertilization on Yield and Fruit Quality of Hayany Date Palm

Transcription

1 Middle East Journal of Agriculture Research Volume : 05 Issue : 04 Oct.-Dec Pages: Effect of Potassium and Boron Fertilization on Yield and Fruit Quality of Hayany Date Palm 1 Zagzog, O. A. and F. M. Salem 2 1 Plant Production Department, Faculty of Technology & Development, Zagazig Univ., Egypt. 2 Soil & Water Department, Faculty of Technology & Development, Zagazig Univ., Egypt. Received: 30 Oct / Accepted: 04 December 2016 / Publication date: 10 December 2016 ABSTRACT The present study was carried out during 2014 and 2015 seasons on hayany date palm cultivar (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) grown in sandy loam soil in a private date palm orchard at El-Qurin district, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt to evaluate the effect of potassium sulfate and boron on yield and fruit quality. Potassium sulfate broadcasted in two rates: 0 and 2 kg/palm (48% K 2O); while boron was sprayed on inflorescence as boric acid at three rates: 0.0, 40 and 60 mg /l. during 2 3 days of natural inflorescence cracking before pollination. The obtained results showed that soil application of potassium sulfate at 2 kg /palm /year and inflorescence boron spraying at (60 mg /l) of increased bunch and yield weight (kg) / hayany date palm, as well as pulp length, diameter, pulp weight fruit ratio. In addition, the tested treatments tented to enhance fruit physical and chemical properties of fruits compared to control one. From these results it could be recommended to fertilize hayany date palms with 2 kg K 2 SO 4 /palm /year as soil application and of inflorescence boron spraying at 60 mg /l to get the highest fruit yield with good physical and chemical properties. Key words: Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera potassium sulfate, boron, yield, fruit quality. Introduction Date palm ranked the third fruit crop after orange and grape In Egypt, (Agric. Econ. Bull., 2005). Because of date palm can grow and produce under a wide range of soil and climatic conditions, growers have mistakenly believed that it does not require much attention. The successful orchard management practices are directed toward obtaining a suitable yield with good fruit quality. Date fruits are very popular in the Arab and Islamic regions. In Egypt; the total number of date palm trees reached 12,296,593 producing about 1,328,468 tons yearly. While the number of Hayany dates reached 2,401,193 palm producing 317,257 tons yearly (Statistics of Ministry of Agriculture, 2013 Egypt). Hayany is one of the very important local date cv. in most Egyptian regions. Nutrient requirements of the date palms could be fulfilled through the fertilizers application for the interplant crops. However, this pattern of application depends on soil texture and the interplant crops. In addition, the nutrient requirements of the date palms differ greatly within each stage of tree life. Potassium is critical element for date palm production since it is involved in plant. Applying potassium generally improves growth, yield and fruit quality of date palm cultivars (Bamiftah, 2000, Harhash, 2000, El- Hamoudi, 2006, Harhash and Abdel-Nasser, 2007, Khayyat et al., 2007, Shahin 2007, Osman, 2010, Amro et al., 2014 and Awad et al., 2014). Also, inflorescence boron spraying significantly increased yield and fruit quality of some date palm cultivars (El-Hamoudi, (2006), Attalla et al., 2007, Desouky et al., 2007, Khayyat et al., 2007, El Sabagh, 2012 and Omar et al., 2015 ). In addition, foliar application of boron increases yield and fruit quality of Le Conte pear cultivar (Hegazi, 2011). But, fruit tannins were not affected in Zaghloul date palm Attalla et al. (2007) and Desouky et al., (2007). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of K soil application either alone or in combination with inflorescence boron spraying at different rates on yield and fruit quality of hayany date palm cultivar grown El-Quren district, El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Corresponding Author: Zagzog, O. A., Plant Production Department, Faculty of Technology & Development, Zagazig Univ., Egypt. zagzog_1000@yahoo.com 604

2 Materials and Methods The present study was carried out during 2014 and 2015 growing seasons on Hayany date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) grown in a private date palm orchard at El-Quren district, El-Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Fifteen -year-old hayany palms were selected for this study, planted at 10 x 10 meters apart in sandy loam soil. Some physical and chemical properties of the soil are presented Table 1. Table 1: Some physical and chemical properties of orchard soil at start of the experiment: Particle size Textural CaCo3 EC distribution, % ph** Ions me, 100g Class % ds/m -1 Soil Sand Silt Clay Ca SCL * Mg ++ Na + K + Co3 = HCO3 - Cl SO4 = SCL * Sand clay loam ** in 1: 2.5 Soils: Water suspension Eighteen palms, as uniform as possible, were randomly selected for this experiment. The experimental design was factorial experiment between soil application of potassium sulfate a (0 & 2 kg / palm) and three bunch boron spraying (as boric acid at 0.0, 40 and 60 mg /l) in completely randomized design, including 6 treatments and three replicates, one palm pear each replicate. All selected palms were fertilized with the recommended dose of 2 kg N and 1 kg P / palm required for Hayany date palm in equal three doses at (Feb., Apr., and May) as soil broadcast around the trunk of each palm received the same cultural practices and soil application with (200 g Fe g Mn g Zn) /palm /year for all treatments. All spathes on each palm were sprayed once with boric acid 2-3 days after spathe cracking (before pollination) during April in the two experimental seasons. The quantities of potassium sulfate were broadcasted in around each palm trunk in one dose in the first week of April. The experimental palms were immediately irrigated after treatments. The same pollen source was used to pollinate the experimental palms during the two seasons of study. Yield and yield characteristics: At the end of rutab stage (harvest time at August, 20 to September, 10), the fruits yield/palm (kg), average bunch weight (kg), average number of strands/bunch, average strand length (cm) and average number of fruits/strand were recorded. Physical and chemical characteristics of dates: After harvest, a sample of thirty fruits was randomly collected from each replicate for determination of physical characteristics of date fruits including: fruits weight, pulp fresh weight and pulp flesh percentage. In addition, fruit length, diameter (cm), fruit shape index (L/D) and pulp thickness (mm), also, seed weight (g), seed length (cm) and diameter (cm) were also measured. Chemical characteristics of date fruits including total soluble solids (TSS %) and titratable acidity percentage (TA %) and ph were estimated. Then, TSS/acid ratio was calculated. Five fruits of each sample were washed with distilled water and the flesh was cut into small pieces by clean knife after peeling, then 1 g from these pieces was used to determine total tannins (as fresh weight percentage) according(a. O. A. C., 1985). Total sugars of each fruit sample were extracted from 0.05 g dried material by 95% ethanol, then total sugars was estimated by phenol sulfuric method according to Stewart (1974) and soluble tannins were determined in each sample by(a. O. A. C., 1985). Statistical analysis: The obtained data were subjected to statistical analysis according to the methods described by Snedecor and Cochran (1989). Mean separation was done using Duncan multiple range test at 5 % level 605

3 (Duncan, 1958). Analysis of variances and mean comparison were performed using SPSS software version 14. Results and Discussion Yield and yield characteristics: Results shown in Tables (2 & 3) indicated that increasing K fertilization rate from 0 to 2 kg K 2 SO 4 / palm / year increased fruit yield, bunch weight, strands number / bunch and number of fruits / strand of Hayany date palm in both seasons. However, the effect of K on strand length (cm) and length of fruitful / strand (cm) were insignificant in both seasons. The difference between the two rates was significant in the second season only. The present results clearly showed that application of 2 kg K 2 SO 4 /palm /year tends to increase the vegetative growth of palm trees. The increment of yield may be attributed to increase in fruit weight and number of fruits / strand. Potassium may be enhance the carbohydrate accumulation through carbohydrate formation and translocation. These results are in agreement with those Arsher (1985), Khayyat et al. (2007), El Sabagh (2012) and Amro et al. (2014) who reported that translocation of photosynthetic assemilations depended on cell potassium concentration. Potassium is involved in controlling cell water content and photosynthetic activity. Table 2: Effect of soil application of potassium and inflorescence boron spray on yield/palm, bunch weight and number of strands/bunch of Hayany date Palms in 2014 and 2015 season Number of strands/bunch Bunch weight (Kg) Yield/palm (Kg) K 2SO 4 0 Kg 49.9 a 50.1 b 9.3 a 9.3 b 92.7 a 92.7 b 2 Kg 51.5 a 52.3 a 12.7 a 13.7 a a a 0 mg/l 45.8 A 47.3 B 6.7 B 7.1 C 67.4 C 71.0 C Boric acid 40 mg/l 53.0 A 52.3 A 11.6 AB 11.6 B B B 60 mg/l 53.3 A 53.9 A 14.6 A 15.7 A A A 0 mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l LSD interaction Table 3: Effect of soil application of potassium and inflorescence boron spray on strand characteristics of Hayany Date palms in 2014 and 2015 seasons Strand length (cm) Number of fruits/strand Length of fruitful/strand (cm) K 2SO 4 0 Kg 62.8 a 64.5 a 9.9 b 10.1 b 33.2 a 37.4 a 2 Kg 65.1 a 62.8 a 11.5 a 12.2 a 37.1 a 36.0 a 0 mg/l 59.2 B 57.6 B 9.6 B 9.6 B 31.3 B 32.2 B Boric acid 40 mg/l 67.9 A 65.1 A 10.5 B 10.7 B 39.9 A 39.3 A 60 mg/l 64.8AB 68.2 A 12.0 A 13.2 A 34.4AB 38.6 A 0 mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l LSD interaction

4 Incensing inflorescence B spray from 0 to 40 ppm significantly increased the fruits yield and bunch weight in the two seasons (Tables 2& 3). The differences between the two rates of (40 and 60 mg /l) were significant in the second season only. Results in Table (3) revealed that strand length (cm), number of fruits / strand and length of fruitful / strand were significantly increased by increasing boron levels in both seasons. Spraying B at 60 ppm tended to increase bunch weight and consequently increased fruits yield. This increase may be attributed to the role of B in enhancing metabolic processes (Mangel and Kirkby, 1987). The present results are in agreement with results of El-Hamoudi (2006), Attalla et al. (2007), Shahin (2007), El Sabagh (2012) and Omar et al. (2015). Hussein (2016) showed that boric acid and potassium sulphate had a positive effect in improving date palm Berhi fruit yield. The interaction between potassium sulfate soil application and inflorescence boron spray on fruit yield and bunch characteristics of Hayany date palm was significant in both seasons. The interacted 2 kg K 2 SO 4 /palm /year increased these parameters with the two rates of boron spray (40 and 60 mg /l). This was confirmed during the two tested seasons. Fruits physical characteristics: Results presented in Tables (4 6) revealed significant increments in weight and width of fruits as well as pulp weight (g), pulp / fruit weight ratio and pulp thickness (cm) as a results of increasing K fertilization in both seasons; while the increase in fruit length, fruits shape index, seeds weight, seeds length and seeds width were in significantly increased with increasing K-fertilization rate. The increment in fruit physical characteristics may be due to the roles of K in ph stabilization, osmoregulaton, enzyme activation, protein synthesis, stomatal movement, photosynthesis and cell extension. These results are in agreement with those obtained by EI-Hammady et al. (1991), Shawky et al. (1999), Harhash (2000), Bamiftah (2000) and Amro et al. (2014). The effect of boron treatments on fruit physical characteristics of Hayany date palms is presented in Tables (4 6). Results indicated that all studied parameters were significantly increased by increasing boron levels in both seasons. Boron spraying at 60 mg /l significantly increased fruit weight, dimensions, and seeds as well as pulp weight (g), pulp / fruit ratio and pulp thickness (cm) as compared to other the treatments in both seasons. The effect may be attributed mainly to boron increases the rates of sugar transport to active growing regions and increases the development of fruit physical characteristics may be attributed to the improvement of fruits growth and uptake of boron that accelerate metabolic processes. Similar findings were reported by Shahin (2007), Khayyat, et al. (2007) Harhash and Abdel-Nasser (2010), El Sabagh (2012) and Omar, et al. (2015). Hussein (2016) showed that boric acid or potassium sulphate had a positive effect in improving date palm Berhi fruit quality. As for the interaction effects, Tables (4-6) illustrates that cluster boron spraying at 60 mg /l treatment increased fruit characteristics with soil application of 2 kg K 2SO 4 /palm /year and seeds characteristics with soil application of 0 kg K 2SO 4 /palm /year treatment in both seasons. Table 4: Effect of soil application of potassium and inflorescence boron spray on fruit characteristics of Hayany date palm in 2014 and 2015 seasons Fruit weight (g) Fruit length (cm) Fruit width (cm) Fruit shape index K 2SO 4 0 Kg 18.4 b 17.9 b 5.07 a 4.86 a 2.29 b 2.49 b 2.32 a 1.96 a 2 Kg 20.6 a 20.8 a 5.21 a 5.05 a 2.60 a 2.62 a 2.01 a 1.93 a 0 mg/l 15.4 C 15.6 C 4.80 C 4.74 B 2.06 B 2.32 B 2.47 A 2.05 A Boric acid 40 mg/l 20.7 B 20.4 B 5.22 B 4.83 B 2.58 A 2.65 A 2.03 A 1.83 B 60 mg/l 22.5 A 22.0A 5.42 A 5.29 A 2.71 A 2.70 A 2.01 A 1.96AB 0 mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l LSD interaction

5 Table 5: Effect of soil application of potassium and inflorescence boron spray on physical fruits characteristics of Hayany date palm in 2014 and 2015 seasons Pulp weight (g) Pulp/Fruit Ratio Pulp thickness (cm) K 2SO 4 0 Kg b b b b a a 2 Kg a a a a 0.301a a 0 mg/l B C B B B B Boric acid 40 mg/l A B A A A A 60 mg/l A A 0.892AB A A 0.312AB 0 mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l LSD interaction Table 6: Effect of soil application of potassium and inflorescence boron spray on seeds characteristics of Hayany date palm in 2014 and 2015 seasons Seed weight (g) Seed length (cm) Seed width (cm) K 2SO 4 0 Kg 2.16 a 2.04 a 3.10 a 3.22 a a a 2 Kg 2.07 a 2.04 a 3.25 a 3.26 a a a 0 mg/l 1.80 C 1.83 B 2.86 B 3.09 C C B Boric acid 40 mg/l 2.13 B 2.10 A 3.23 A 3.24 B B A 60 mg/l 2.40 A 2.20 A 3.44 A 3.40 A A A 0 mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l mg/l LSD interaction Fruits chemical characteristics: Results presented in Tables (7 and 8) showed that increasing K fertilization insignificantly affected each of total soluble solids (TSS %), ph, tannins and sugars percentages (reducing, non-reducing and total) of Hayany date palm, fruits, where it increased total acidity in both seasons. The results demonstrated that TSS / acid ratio was significantly decrease by increasing K application in both seasons. These results may be due to the role of K in activating the enzymes involved in sugar biosynthesis and help in translocation of sugars. These results were in agreement with Bamiftah (2000) and Harhash and Abdel-Nasser (2010). Boron spraying effect did not differ significantly in total acidity, TSS / acid ratio and ph in both seasons as well as tannins percentage in the second one, while, total soluble solids percentage (TSS %) was significantly increased with increasing B levels from 0 to 60 mg /l. Reducing, non-reducing and total sugars percentage did not gave obvious trend in both seasons. These results are in agreement with those obtained by El-Hamoudi (2006) and Omar et al. (2015). On the contrary, Attalla et al. (2007) and Desouky et al. (2007) reported that spraying Zaghloul date palm with boric acid did not affected fruit tannins. This was confirmed during the two tested seasons. 608

6 Table 7: Effect of soil application of potassium and inflorescence boron spray on chemical fruit characteristics of Hayany date palm in 2014 and 2015 seasons TSS (%) Acidity (%) TSS/Acid Ratio ph K 2SO 4 0 Kg a a 0.31 b 0.33 b 138.9a 126.4a 9.32 a 9.14 a 2 Kg a a 0.48 a 0.51 a 88.3 b 78.0 b 8.79 a 8.71 b 0 mg/l 37.6 B 37.7 B 0.36 A 0.40 A 110.3A 97.3 A 9.12 A 9.10 A Boricacid 40 mg/l 40.5 A 40.1 A 0.42 A 0.46 A 115.3A 92.0 A 8.83 A 8.57 B 60 mg/l 40.3 A 39.9 A 0.41 A 0.42 A 115.2A 117.3A 9.22 A 9.12 A 0 mg/l K 2 40 mg/l SO 4 60 mg/l K 2 SO 4 0 mg/l mg/l mg/l LSD interaction Table 8: Effect of soil application of potassium and inflorescence boron spray tannins and sugars percentages of Hayany date palm fruit in 2014 and 2015 seasons Tannins (%) Total Sugars (%) Reducing Sugars Non Reducing (%) Sugars (%) K 2SO 4 0 Kg 0.131a 0.121a 25.59a 18.79b 14.3 a 10.99b 11.29a 7.80a 2 Kg 0.149a 0.135a 24.02a 21.79a 13.87a 13.73a 10.15a 8.06a 0 mg/l B 0.108A 24.6AB 24.71A 14.48A 14.33A 10.13B 10.38A Boric 40 mg/l 0.135AB 0.138A 23.1 B 19.56B 14.33B 12.34B 8.716B 7.22B acid 60 mg/l A 0.138A 26.7 A 16.6 C 13.43B 10.41C 13.32A 6.19B 0 mg/l K 2SO 4 40 mg/l K 2SO 4 60 mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l LSD interaction Conclusively, from these results it could be recommended to fertilize Hayany date palms with potassium sulphate through soil application at 2 kg /palm tree /year and spraying inflorescence with boron at 60 mg /l, since this treatment gave the highest fruit yield with good physical and chemical properties. References Amro, S. M. Salama, Omima M. El-Sayed, Osama H.M. ElGammal, Effect of Effective Microorganisms (EM) and Potassium Sulphate on Productivity and Fruit Quality of "Hayany" Date Palm Grown Under Salinity Stress. J. of Agric. and Veterinary Scie., 7: A.O.A.C., Official Methods of Analysis of Association of Official Agricultural Chemists.14th ed. Washington DC, USA, pp: 832. Arsher, J., Crop nutrition and fertilizer use. Farming Press Ltd. pp: 258. Attalla, A.M., A. A. Etman, A. M. El-Kobbia and S.M. El-Nawam, Influence of flower boron spray and soil application with some micronutrients in calcareous soil on: 1. Yield, quality and mineral content of Zaghloul dates in Egypt. The Fourth Symposium on Date Palm in Saudi Arabia, King Faisal University, Al-Hassa, pp: Awad, M. A., S. M. Ismail and A. D. Al-Qurashi, Effect of potassium soil and foliar spray fertilization on yield, fruit quality and nutrient uptake of Seweda date palm grown in sandy loam soil. J.of Food, Agric. & Envi., (1): Bamiftah, M.A.O., Effect of potassium fertilization and bunch thinning on yield and fruit quality of Zaghloul date palm. M. Sc. Thesis, Fac. Agric. Sci., Saba Basha, Alex. 609

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