Effect of Levels and Methods of Potassium and Phosphorus Fertilization on Yield, Fruit Quality and Chemical Composition of Khalas Date Palm Cultivar

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1 Life Science Journl 2013;10(4) Effect of Levels nd Methods of Potssium nd Phosphorus Fertiliztion on Yield, Fruit Qulity nd Chemicl Composition of Khls Dte Plm Cultivr 1 R. S. Al-Oeed; 1 H.A. Kssem nd 1,2 M.A. Ahmed 1 Plnt Production Deprtment, College of Food nd Agriculturl Sciences, King Sud University, Sudi Ari. 2 Deprtment of Horticulturl Crops Technology, Ntionl Reserch Centre, Egypt. khider1968@yhoo.com Astrct: The present study ws crried out during 2010 nd 2011 sesons t the Reserch nd Agriculturl Experimentl Sttion, King Sud University, Sudi Ari in order to study the effect of potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion rtes pplied either lone or in comintions with ech other on lef minerl content, yield nd fruit qulity of Khls dte plm cultivr. Potssium nd phosphorus rtes were dded in either; one, two or three equl doses in 15 th of Ferury (efore flowering), 15 th of April (fter fruit set) nd 15 th of My (during fruit mturity). The results showed tht potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion incresed the fruit set nd yield nd improved the fruit physicl chrcteristics (fruit weight, volume, length nd dimeter) t eser stge, nd chemicl chrcteristics (TSS, cidity nd sugrs contents) t Tmer stge, especilly with high levels of potssium fertiliztion. The high level of potssium fertiliztion incresed the pinne N, P, K nd Fe contents, while decresed the Zn nd Mn contents. Thus, it is recommended to dd the high level of potssium (2 Kg potssium sulphte) nd phosphorus (1.5 Kg clcium super phosphte) t three nd two equl doses, respectively to increse the yield nd fruit qulity of Khls dte plm grown under the present conditions. [R. S. Al-Oeed; H.A. Kssem nd M.A. Ahmed. Effect of Levels nd Methods of Potssium nd Phosphorus Fertiliztion on Yield, Fruit Qulity nd Chemicl Composition of Khls Dte Plm Cultivr Life Sci J.2013;10(4): ]. (ISSN: ) Key words: Dte plm - fertiliztion - phosphorus potssium- yield- fruit qulity 1. Introduction: Dte plm (Phoenix dctylifer, L.) is one of the most importnt fruits in the world nd Sudi Ari. According to FAO (2010), Sudi Ari is considered the third country of the top ten dte producers ( tones). Khls dte plm is the most importnt cultivr in Sudi Ari. Severl investigtors studied the effect of potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion on fruit set, yield, fruit qulity nd lef minerl content of different dte plm vrieties. Nitrogen, phosphorus nd potssium re the three most needed nutrients y plms, which re commonly met through fertilizers. When pplying fertilizers to the plms, our gol is to mximize nutrient uptke y the plms from fertilizers for optimum growth nd yield (Tung et l., 2009). Soil test-sed fertility mngement is n effective tool for incresing productivity of griculturl soils tht hve high degree of sptil vriility resulting from the comined effects of physicl, chemicl or iologicl processe. However, mjor constrints impede wide scle doption of soil testing in most developing countries (Gooverts, 1998). K nd Mg lso influences mny of the processes tht re importnt for the formtion of yield in plnts such s wter economy, synthesis of crohydrtes nd the trnsport of ssimiltes (Mengel nd Kirky, 1982).Potssium ply key role in N uptke nd trnsloction from roots to vegettive growth (Cushnhn et l. 1995). Sinclir et l. (1981) who found tht the 1100 g N nd 800 g P 2 O 5 for ech fruitful tree cused the est yield nd fruit qulity. Also, Bch nd Ao-Hssn (1982) showed tht chemicl fertilizers incresed the yield of trees s compred with the orgnic mnure. Some of the fruit physicl nd chemicl chrcteristics were ffected y the chemicl fertilizers. Soil fertiliztion did not significntly ffect the fruit N, P, K, C nd Mg content. Bliss nd Mthez (1983) found tht the est fertilizer recommendtion s 930 g N nd 620 g P 2 O 5 for ech tree in ech yer. As well s, EI- Hmmdy et l. (1991), Shhrokhni, (1992), Sh (1993), Bmifth (2000) found tht the highest yield nd fruit qulity of dtes were otined y dding potssium to plm trees. Likewise, Kssem et l. (1997) reported tht potssium fertilizer incresed the lef N nd K content of Zghloul dte plm. Additionlly, Solimn nd Osmn (2003) nd Osmn (2010) reported tht the N 1 K 1 ( ) kg/plm gve the highest fruit dimeter,fruit TSS nd totl sugrs content,nd dded tht the lef N nd K content incresed, while Fe nd Zn decresed with incresing the N nd K rtes in oth sesons. Also, Fhim nd Sleh (2007) showed tht the phosphorus nd potssium fertilizer cused meningful increse in yield nd improvement fruit qulity. In ddition, Shhin (2007) found tht, the est rte of potssium fertiliztion for the est growth, yield nd lef N, P nd K content ws 4.5 kg /plm / yer. The results, 1111

2 Life Science Journl 2013;10(4) lso reveled tht the ppliction of K fertilizer t two equl doses in My nd Decemer or t three equl doses in Mrch, My nd Decemer were the etter under Al-Hss Osis (K.S.A) conditions, on 20 yers-old Khls dte plm, grown on sndy lom soils. The successful orchrd mngement prctices re directed towrd otining suitle yield with good fruit qulity. The most importnt culturl prctices in dte plm orchrds is fertiliztion. Recommendtions of the scientific meetings for dt plm reserch stressed the importnce of fertiliztion to improve the productivity nd fruit qulity. Fertiliztion of dtes is necessry for resons to insure dequte flowering nd to relieve the lternte ering for the successive yer nd to otin lrger fruit size nd qulity. It hs een well known tht the nutrient requirements of the dte plms could e fulfilled through the fertilizers ppliction for the interplnt crops. Therefore, this investigtion ws crried out to study the effect of level nd ppliction time of potssium nd phosphorus fertilizer on fruit set, yield, qulity nd lef minerl content of Khls dte plm cultivr grown in Riydh region. 2. Mterils nd Methods: This study ws crried out during 2010 nd 2011 sesons t the Reserch nd Agriculturl Experimentl Sttion, King Sud University, Sudi Ari in order to study the effect of potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion rtes pplied either lone or in comintions with ech other on yield, fruit qulity nd lef minerl content, of Khls dte plm cultivr. Tow levels of potssium sulphte; 50 K 2 O (K1= 1kg; K2= 2 kg) nd tow levels of triple supper phosphte;45 P (P1= 1 kg; P2= 1.5 kg) were dded in either one dose, two doses or three equl doses in 15 th of Ferury 15 (efore flowering), 15 th of April (fter fruit set) nd 15 th of My (during fruit mturity). For this study, thirty trees were chosen s uniform s possile.the trees were plnted t spcing of 7 x 7 meters nd grown in lomy clcreous soil. Before experiment hd een conducted in the 1 st seson, mechnicl nd chemicl nlysis of orchrd soil nd wter irrigtion were done s shown in Tle (1). The tretments were s follows: Femle plms with similr vigor, height, pollen source nd ge (10 yers old) were selected nd sujected to the norml culturl prctices pplied for dte plms (10 unches /plm) nd one level of ctul nitrogen (1000g/plm) from mmonium sulphte (20.6N). Ten soil ppliction tretments were rrnged in completely rndomized design with three replictes (1 replicte = 1 plms) per tretment (i.e = 30 plm). Tle 1: Some physicl nd chemicl chrcteristics of soil nd irrigtion wter used for the present study Prmeters Vlue Prmeters soil Irrigtion Wter Snd () ph Silt () EC (ds/m) Cly () Ctions (meq l) (meq l) Texturl clss Sndy lom C Orgnic mtter () 0.40 Mg ph 7.50 N EC (ds/m) 1.00 K Clcium crontes () Anions (meq l) (meq l) Totl N ppm 14 HCO P ppm = CO 3 nd nd K ppm Cl The tretments were s follows: ---- SO T1 = Control, without ny PK minerl fertilizer(p0k0). T2 = 1.0 Kg P + 2.0Kg K t one dose (P1K2D1). T3 = 1.0 Kg P + 2.0Kg K t two doses (P1K2D2). T4 = 1.0 Kg P + 2.0Kg K t three doses (P1K2D3). T5 = 1.0 Kg P + 1.0Kg K t one dose (P1K1D1). T6 = 1.0 Kg P + 1.0Kg K t two doses (P1K1D2). T7 = 1.0 Kg P + 1.0Kg K t three doses (P1K1D3). T8 = 1.5 Kg P Kg K t one dose (P2K2D1). T9 = 1.5 Kg P + 2.0Kg K t two doses (P2K2D2). T10 = 1.5 Kg P + 2.0Kg t three doses (P2K2D3). 1112

3 Life Science Journl 2013;10(4) The fruits were hrvested t eser stge t the lst week of July nd tmer stge ws hrvested in mid August in oth sesons nd following chrcters were determined: Fruit set percentge = Numer of fruits x 100 / Totl numer of flowers Yield: The verge fruit yield/dte nd unch weight were recorded in kilogrms. Fruit physicl chrcteristics: At eser stge smple of ten strnds were rndomly collected from ech replicte in oth sesons for ech tretment nd pcked in oxes nd trnsported immeditely to the lortory to determine the fruit physicl chrcteristics (i.e) fruit weight, seed weight nd fruit flesh weight (in gm), Fruit volume (cm 3 ) nd fruit dimensions (fruit length nd fruit dimeter, in cm). Fruit chemicl chrcteristics: Chemicl properties of fruits t tmer stge nmely totl solule solid (TSS ), fruit cidity (), sugr content (reducing, non-reducing nd totl sugr) nd moisture content, were determined ccording to A.O.A.C., Lef minerl contents: A lef smple of three consecutive leves locted just elow the fruiting zone (out two yers old) ws tken t rndom from ech replicte in mid- Octoer.Lef smples were wshed with tp wter, rinsed twice in distilled wter nd dried in ir drying oven t 70 C. Dried leves were grounded nd digested with H 2 O 2 nd H 2 SO 4 ccording to Evnhuis nd De Wrd (1980). Suitle liquots were tken for the determintion of the minerl content; Nitrogen ws determined y the Kjeldhl method (AOAC, 1995). Phosphorus ws determined y scoric cid method ccording to Murphy nd Riley (1962). Potssium ws determined y flme photometer. Fe, Zn nd Mn, contents were mesured using n tomic sorption spectrophotometer (Model 305B). The concentrtions of N, P, nd K were expressed s percentges, while Fe, Zn nd Mn s prts per million (ppm) on dry weight sis. Sttisticl nlysis: The experimentl design ws rndomized complete lock including four tretments. Dt otined throughout this study were sttisticlly nlyzed using the nlysis of vrince method s reported y Snedecor nd Cochrn, 1980, nd the differences etween mens were differentited y using Duncn's rnge test. 3. Results nd Discussion Fruit set percent nd yield: The results otined in Tle (2) showed tht, fruit set of Khls dte plm cultivr ws higher y the ppliction of T10,T8 nd T2 tretments in the first seson (72.92,70.09 nd 69.96, respectively), while in the second seson T10 tretment gve the highest fruit set percent only. However T1 gve the lowest vlue (47.15 nd ) during two sesons of the study, respectively, compred to the other tretments. Concerning the verge unch weight, the dt otined in Tle (2) indicted tht the T4 tretment gve the highest unch weight in the first nd second sesons (14.40 nd Kg, respectively) however, the T1 tretment gve the lowest vlues. The dt in Tle (2) lso showed tht the T4 tretment gve the highest yield s kg/tree of Khls dte plm, while T1 tretment gve the lest vlues during two sesons of the study. These increment in dte plm yield y K tretments my e ttriuted to the physiologicl role of potssium in enhncing mny metolic processes such s crohydrte formtion, trnsloction nd ccumultion. Archer (1985) reported tht trnsloction of photosynthtes depended on cell potssium concentrtion. The otined results re in close greement with those found y EI Hmmdy et l. (1991), Shwky et l. (1999), Bmifth(2000), Osmn (2010), Shhin (2007) Al- Khrusi et l. (2007) studied the effect of potssium fertiliztion on yield, nd found tht the K pplied t three doses in Mrch, June nd Septemer gve the highest plm yield, unch weight. Fruit physicl chrcteristics: Fruit weight : Dt presented in Tles (3 &4) showed tht the verge fruit weight of Khls dte plm t eser stge ws significntly higher in trees treted y T4 tretment, however T7 tretment in the second seson lso gve the higher verge fruit weight. In this respect, the control (T1) nd T6 tretments were recorded the lowest vlue in the first seson, nd T1,T10,T6 nd T8 tretments were recorded the lowest vlue in the second seson. Seed weight: Results tulted in Tles (3 nd 4) indicted tht the verge seed weight significntly incresed y most tretments. The T4,T7,T2,T9,T1,T10 nd T5 tretments gve the highest verge seed weight in the eser stge during the first seson, while in the second seson seed weight did no significnt different etween ll tretments. Fruit flesh weight: Dt in Tles (3&4) clerly indicted tht T4 tretment gve the highest significntly fruit flesh weight in the eser stge (11.71nd gm), during two sesons of the study, respectively, however control (T1)gve the lowest fruit flesh weight in the first seson. In this respect, the control (T1),T10, T6 nd T8 tretments were recorded the lowest vlues. Fruit size: Dt presented in Tles (3&4) clerly indicted tht fruit size of Khls cultivr ws significntly 1113

4 Life Science Journl 2013;10(4) ffected y different fertiliztion tretments. It ws clerly noticed tht T4 tretment gve the highest fruit size in the first seson, while T4 nd T7 tretments gve the highest fruit size in the second seson. On the other hnd, control (T1) nd T6 tretments hd the lowest fruit size in the first seson, nd T1,T10, T6 nd T8 tretments produced the lowest fruit size in the second seson. Fruit length: Dt in Tles (3 nd 4) indicted tht fruit length ws significntly ffected y the different tretments for Khls cultivr in the two sesons of study. In this respect, the est results were otined from T4 nd T7 tretments in the first seson, while in the second seson T5, T4, T7 nd T2 tretments gve the longest fruits. On the other hnd, T9 tretment gve the shortest fruits in the first seson, s well s T1, T6, T9 nd T10 tretments during the second seson. Fruit dimeter: It is ovious from Tles (3 nd 4) tht, T4,T6,T7,T3,T8,T10 nd T2 tretments significntly produced the highest fruit dimeter, In this respect, T1,T5 nd T9 tretments produced the lowest fruit dimeter in the first seson, however in the second seson fruit dimeter did not ffected y ny tretments. Tle 2: Effect of levels potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion nd ppliction time on fruit set nd yield of Khls dte plm cultivr during2010 nd 2011 sesons Fruit set () Bunch Weight (Kg) Yield (Kg /plm) Tretments T1=P0K d g 8.00 f 7.67 e f e T2=P1K2D e 8.89 d e d T3=P1K2D T4=P1K2D c c T5=P1K1D cd c c c c T6=P1K1D c d c c c c T7=P1K1D c e d 9.79 d d d T8=P2K2D d 9.55 d d d T9=P2K2D f 9.73 d c d c T10=P2K2D d 9.55 d d d LSD Mens within ech column with the sme letter re not significnt t 5 level. Tle 3: Effect of levels potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion nd ppliction time on fruit physicl properties (Beser stge) of Khls dte plm cultivr during 2010 seson. Tretments Fruit weight Seed weight Fruit length (cm) Flesh weight Fruit volume (cm 3 ) Fruit dimeter (cm) T1=P0K g 1.08 c 8.11 h 9.33 de 3.34 f 2.27 c T2=P1K2D c 1.10 c c cd 2.38 T3=P1K2D de 1.02 c 9.33 de c 3.52 cd 2.42 T4=P1K2D T5=P1K1D ef 1.05 c 9.21 e c 3.40 ef 2.32 c T6=P1K1D g 1.04 c 8.33 g 9.17 e 3.46 de 2.43 T7=P1K1D T8=P2K2D ef 1.04 c 9.21 e c 3.52 cd 2.42 T9=P2K2D f 1.10 c 8.93 f 9.83 cd 3.17 g 2.25 c T10=P2K2D d 1.06 c 9.46 d c 3.62 c 2.40 LSD Mens within ech column with the sme letter re not significnt t 5 level. 1114

5 Life Science Journl 2013;10(4) Tle 4: Effect of levels potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion nd ppliction time on fruit physicl properties (Beser stge) of Khls dte plm cultivr during 2011 seson. Tretments Fruit weight Seed weight Flesh weight Fruitvolume (cm 3 ) Fruit length (cm) Fruit dimeter (cm) T1=P0K e f 13.50g 3.70e 2.57 T2=P1K2D c 15.17cd 3.93c 2.67 T3=P1K2D cd de 14.33ef 3.87cd 2.57 T4=P1K2D T5=P1K1D c cd 15.53c T6=P1K1D de ef 13.83fg 3.83cde 2.57 T7=P1K1D T8=P2K2D de ef 14.00efg 3.87cd 2.67 T9=P2K2D c cd 14.67de 3.80cde 2.63 T10=P2K2D e ef 13.50g 3.77de 2.57 LSD N.S Mens within ech column with the sme letter re not significnt t 5 level. These increment in fruit physicl chrcteristics my e due to the potssium ppliction, where it plys n importnt role in, ph stiliztion, osmoregultion, enzyme ctivtion, protein synthesis, stomtl movement, photosynthesis, nd cell extension (Läuchli nd Pfluger, 1978). Moreover, potssium is n importnt solute in expnding cells (Mrchner, 1986). These results re in greement with those otined y Sinclir et l. (1981), Bch nd Ao- Hssn (1982), EI-Hmmdy et l. (1991), Bmifth (2000), Solimn nd Osmn (2003), Fhim nd Sleh (2007) nd Osmn (2010) studied the effect of potssium fertiliztion on yield, fruit qulity of dte plm, nd found tht potssium pplied gve the highest fruit nd flesh weight nd length. Fruit Chemicl chrcteristics: Totl solule solids percentge (TSS ): Dt presented in Tles (5 nd 6) showed tht T4 nd T7 tretments cused slight incresed totl solule solids in fruit t Tmer stge in the first seson, while in the second seson, T4, T7,T2 nd T5 tretments gve the highest TSS. On the other hnd, the lowest contents of totl solule solids in juice were in the control (T1) during two sesons of the study. Totl cidity percentge: Results in Tles (5 nd 6) indicted tht totl fruit cidity percentge were did not significntly ffected y different tretments. Sugrs content: Dt presented in Tles (5 nd 6) indicted tht the reducing sugrs ws significntly ffected y different tretments. Reducing sugr percentge in the Tmer fruit stge were highly from trees treted y T5,T4,T7 nd T3 tretments, ut T1,T6,T9 nd T10 tretments gve the lowest vlues in the first seson. Moreover, in the second seson,t2, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9 nd T10 tretments gve the highest fruit content of reducing sugrs, while T1 nd T3 tretments reduced the reducing sugr content. Regrding the non-reducing sugrs, the dt in Tles (5 nd 6) indicted tht the fruit non-reducing sugrs content were ffected significntly y different tretments. T4 tretment gve the highest vlues during two sesons of the study, on the other hnd T5 tretment produced the lest vlue in the first seson, nd T10 gve the lowest contents of non-reducing sugrs in the second seson. As for the totl sugrs content, results in Tles (5&6) showed tht fruit totl sugrs content ws significntly ffected y the different tretments. Trees treted y T4 tretment incresed totl sugrs in fruits in Tmer stge, on the other hnd trees treted y T1 tretments gve the lowest vlue during this study. Moisture content percentge: Moisture content percentge of Khls fruits were did not ffected y different tretments in tmer stges (Tle 5&6). These results re due to the fct tht potssium ctivtes the enzymes involving in sugr iosynthesis nd helps in trnsloction of sugrs (Evns nd Sorger, 1966 nd Archer, 1985). In ddition, Suelter (1970) mentioned tht there re more thn 50 enzymes which re stimulted y potssium. The otined results ppered to e in close greement with the findings reported y EI-Hmmdy et l. (1991), Bch nd Ao-Hssn (1982), Bmifth (2000), Solimn nd Osmn (2003), Osmn (2009) nd Osmn (2010) they found tht chemicl fertilizers (NPK) improved chemicl (TSS, totl, reducing nd non-reducing sugrs percentge) properties. 1115

6 Life Science Journl 2013;10(4) Tle 5: Effect of levels potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion nd ppliction time on fruit chemiclproperties (Tmer stge) of Khls dte plm cultivr during 2010 seson. Tretments Totl solule solids () Totl cidity () Reducing sugrs () Non- Reducing sugrs () Totl sugrs () Moisture content () T1=P0K h c c e T2=P1K2D c c c T3=P1K2D ef d c T4=P1K2D T5=P1K1D cd e d T6=P1K1D f c d T7=P1K1D c T8=P2K2D f d d T9=P2K2D de c d T10=P2K2D g c d LSD N.S N.S Mens within ech column with the sme letter re not significnt t 5 level. Tle 6: Effect of levels potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion nd ppliction time on fruit chemicl properties (Tmer stge) of Khls dte plm cultivr during 2011 seson Tretments Totl solule solids () Totl cidity () Reducing sugrs () Non- Reducing sugrs () Totl sugrs () Moisture content () T1=P0K d d cd e T2=P1K2D c cd c T3=P1K2D c cd cd T4=P1K2D cd T5=P1K1D c cd c cd T6=P1K1D c cd cd cde T7=P1K1D cd T8=P2K2D c cd cd cde T9=P2K2D c cd cd T10=P2K2D c c d de LSD N.S N.S Mens within ech column with the sme letter re not significnt t 5 level. Lef minerl contents: Dt presented in Tles (7&8) showed tht significnt effect of potssium nd Phosphorus fertiliztion on levels pinne elementl contents (i.e. N, P, K, Fe, Zn nd Mn). Pinne nitrogen percent: The results showed tht, pinne nitrogen content ws significntly ffected y different level of potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion tretments. T2 tretment (high level K pplied in one doses) incresed significntly pinne nitrogen content in the first seson, while in the second seson,t2,t4,t5 nd T7 tretments. On the other hnd control tretment (T1) gve the lowest vlue during this study. Pinne phosphorus percent: The pinne phosphorus concentrtion ws significntly incresed with treted Khls dte plm trees y T3, T8 nd T10 tretments (high level potssium) in the first seson, however in the second seson, T10 tretment gve the highest vlue. However control(t1)gve the lowest phosphorus content in pinne during the two sesons of study. Pinne potssium percent: The pinne potssium concentrtion in Khls dte plm significntly incresed with incresing the level nd doses of potssium fertiliztion (Tles7 nd 8). Tretments, T3 nd T4 (2.0 kg per plm) pplied in two or three doses gve the highest potssium concentrtion thn those of other fertiliztion tretments nd control, which gve the lowest vlues. 1116

7 Life Science Journl 2013;10(4) Pinne iron content: Pinne iron concentrtion of Khls dte plm, the dt in Tles (7&8) showed tht significntly Fe incresed y trees treted y T7 tretment, while T1 tretment gve the lowest iron concentrtion vlues during this study. Pinne Zinc nd mngnese content: It is noticed from the otined results in Tles (7 nd 8) showed tht ll tretments of this study decresed Zn nd Mn Pinne contents of Khls dte plm, on the other hnd control (T1) gve the highest vlues during two sesons of the study. These results re supported y those reported y El- Hmmdy et l., (1991), Kssem et l. (1997), Solimn nd Osmn (2003), Shhin (2007), Osmn (2009) nd Osmn (2010)they found tht the lef N, P nd K content incresed, while Zn decresed with incresing the N nd K rtes Fertiliztion. Tle 7: Effect of levels potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion nd ppliction time on lef minerl content of Khls dte plm cultivr during 2010 seson Tretments N P K Fe Ppm Zn ppm Mn ppm T1=P0K d g cde T2=P1K2D cd e c T3=P1K2D c e T4=P1K2D c de c T5=P1K1D ef cd cd d T6=P1K1D f cde cd e T7=P1K1D c cde T8=P2K2D def cd T9=P2K2D ef e c T10=P2K2D cde de LSD Mens within ech column with the sme letter re not significnt t 5 level. Tle 8: Effect of levels potssium nd phosphorus fertiliztion nd ppliction time on lef minerl content of Khls dte plm cultivr during 2011 seson Tretments N P K Fe Ppm Zn ppm Mn ppm T1=P0K d 0.16 e 1.32 d d T2=P1K2D de cd e T3=P1K2D g T4=P1K2D c cd c T5=P1K1D d c f T6=P1K1D c 1.42 c cd de fg T7=P1K1D d cd c T8=P2K2D c c e c T9=P2K2D c ef de T10=P2K2D c c f cd LSD Mens within ech column with the sme letter re not significnt t 5 level. Acknowledgements The writers thnk the Denship of Scientific Reserch nd Reserch Center, College of Food nd Agriculturl Sciences, King Sud University, Kingdom of Sudi Ari, for funding this reserch. 1117

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