Effect of Irrigation and Potassium Fertilizer on Vegetative Growth, Yield and Quality of Globe Artichoke Plants under Sandy Soil Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons at El-Kassasin Horticulture Research Station, Ismailia governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of irrigation and potassium fertilizer treatments on vegetative growth, yield and quality of globe artichoke plants under drip irrigation system in sandy soil. The experiment was designed as split plot. Main plots devoted to irrigation treatments which included irrigation with 100% of ET c (I 1), 80% of ET c (I 2) and 60% of ET c (I 3). While potassium fertilizer treatments were in the sub-plot. Potassium fertilizer treatments were 100% of recommended potassium fertilizer dose (K 1), application of 75% and 50% from recommended potassium fertilizer dose plus 1% foliar potassium citrate (K 2 and K 3 respectively). Results indicated that the highest values of plant height, leaf fresh and dry weight, number of offshoots plant-1 , flower heads fresh weight and diameter, fresh weight and diameter as well as thickness of receptacle, number of early and total flower heads plant-1 and total yield fed-1 were obtained from I 1 and K 1 , while the lowest values resulted from I 3 and K 3. There were no significant differences between K 1 and K 2 potassium treatments for all characteristics, as well as between I 1 × K 1 and I 1 × K 2 interactions in the two growing seasons. Seasonal applied water was 39.32, 31.63 and 23.97 cm when globe artichoke plants were irrigated with 100, 80 and 60% of ET c respectively. The highest values of productivity of irrigation water (PIW) resulted from irrigation with 60% of ET c. At the same time, potassium treatments of K 1 and K 2 not only resulted in higher yield but also increased the PIW. Generally, it could be concluded that under study condition irrigation with 100 ET c and application of 75% from recommended potassium fertilizer dose plus 1% foliar potassium citrate was the best combination for globe artichoke yield and its quality. When water becomes limiting factor, the treatment of I 3 x K 2 could be recommended.

Effect of Irrigation Intervals and Foliar Applications with Some Nano-Fertilizers on Growth and Productivity of Globe Artichoke Plant: A-Vegetative Growth and Chemical Content in Leaves

“…In this concern, it was found that root growth rate, length and surface had been associated with K acquisition efficiency of root system, consequently improved nutrient absorption. Similar results were reported by Anwar et al (2017)…”

“…The enhancing effect of potassium on plant growth might be attributed to its association with the efficiency of leaf as an assimilator to CO2 (Rai et al 2002), activating phyto-hormones, regulation of cellular pH, enhancing N uptake, and acting as an activator to enzymatic systems (Marschner, 2013). These results are in harmony with the findings of El-Sharkawy and El-Zohiri ( 2007), Kasim et al (2007) and Anwar et al (2017)…”

“…Whereas using potassium application on artichoke encourage this mainly due to its vital role in regulating of many physiological processes (potassium regulates the opening and closing of stomata, and therefore regulates CO2 uptake). The obtained results are in accordance with those of Leskovar and Xu (2013) and Anwar et al (2017).…”

“…Such response might be attributed to lake of water absorbed, inhibition of meristemic activity and reduction in photosynthetic efficiency under the prolonged irrigation interval. Similar results were recorded by El-Sharkawy and El-Zohiri (2007); Zeipiņa et al (2015) and Anwar et al (2017).…”

“…The highest mean values for N, P and K% in leaves were found to be associated with the addition of 100% K, while such effect was realized for the treatment of 75% K during both seasons. Similar results were reported by El-Sharkawy and El-Zohiri (2007), Kasim et al (2007), Anwar et al (2017) and Shafshak et al (2020).…”