Effect of Some Flood Irrigation and Potassium Fertilization Treatments on Vegetative Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality of “Dessert Red” Peach Trees Grown in Clay Soil

Abstract

This investigation was carried out during 2008 and 2009 seasons to study the effect of three irrigation regimes at 80, 70 and 60% of field capacity (FC) (I1, I2 and I3) and three potassium fertilizer levels at 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg K2SO4 (48% K2O)/tree (K1, K2 and K3), as well as, their interaction on vegetative growth, nutritional status, water relations, yield and fruit quality in addition to field water use efficiency (FWUE) of "Dessert Red" peach trees budded on Nemaguard rootstock grown in Sedy Salem District, Kafrelsheikh governorate. The obtained data indicated that, deficit irrigation regime was associated with reduced shoot length and diameter, number of leaves/shoot, area per leaf, shoot and leaf dry weights and trunk cross section areaincrease. However, increasing K fertilizer level caused a significant increase in previous vegetative growth characeristics. The application of (I1 x K3) and/or (I2 x K3) considered the best combination treatments for enhanced vegetative growth in both seasons of study. In the two experimental seasons, reducing irrigation rate up to 60% FC led to significant reduction in leaf macro and micro-nutrients, total chlorophyll contents, and significant increment in leaf free proline content. Meanwhile, increasing K fertilizer level from 0.5 to 0.75 or 1 kg K2SO4/tree significantly increased leaf K and free proline contents but significantly reduced leaf Ca, Mg and total chlorophyll contents. On the other hand, leaf N, P, Fe, Mn and Zn-contents were not affected by increasing the level of K fertilizer. Either deficit irrigation regime or high K fertilizer level recorded the highest values of bound water and osmotic pressure of cell sap and the lowest total and free water contents in both seasons. Additionally, fruit yield (kg/tree), yield efficiency (kg/cm 2 TCSA) and total yield (ton/fed.) as well as average fruit weight, length and diameter were significantly increased by increasing either irrigation or K fertilizer levels, while, fruit firmness was reduced. Moreover, colour%, skin anthocyanin content and SSC were significantly increased under high K fertilizer level but, significantly decreased under higher irrigation level. However, total acidity was not affected with the both tested irrigation and K fertilizer levels and their interaction in both seasons. Greatest yield with heaviest and largest fruit beside highest values of field water use efficiency (FWUE) were produced by applying (I1 x K3) and/or (I2 x K3) combination treatments. Thus, this study recommend "Dessert Red" peach growers in clay soil to irrigate when soil moisture content reached 70% (FC) and to apply 1 kg K2SO4 (48% K2O)/tree in (I2 x K3) combination treatment which is considered the best one in this study. This treatment is not only stimulated vegetative growth and improved nutritional status and water relations but also produced maximum yield with high fruit quality especially fruit weight, size, colour and SSC content beside, saving irrigation water and increasing FWUE kg/m 3. This investigation was carrie...

Effect of Replacing Mineral Nitrogen by Organic Manures Under Different Irrigation Regimes On: B.PRODUCTIVITY and Water Use Efficiency of “Anna” Apple Trees

“…The reduction in fruit firmness might be due to increasing fruit volume and reducing calcium concentration as influenced by irrigation and fertilizers application. These results coincided with those obtained by Mikhael et al (2010) who reported that deficit irrigation regime induced significantly higher fruit firmness. Furthermore, Salama et al (2012) concluded that the values of fruit firmness of Sewy date fruit were increased when 100% of nitrogen was applied completely via organic form compared to added 100% mineral nitrogen fertilizer.…”

“…These findings might be due to advance fruit maturity under drought condition. These results are in accordance with those of Mikhael et al (2010) who found that the values of soluble solids content (SSC) in fruits of "Dessert Red" peach trees increase by decreasing the level of irrigation regime from 80% to 60% field capacity (FC). Other wise, Kaya et al (2010) noticed that there were no significant differences for the tested irrigation regimes in total soluble content of apricot fruit.…”

“…These results might be attributed to the positive action of organic application and moderate irrigation regime in the improving of biosynthesis of carbohydrate and accelerating fruit ripening (Mansour et al, 2007). These findings confirmed with those achieved by Shahien et al (2002) on "Anna" apple and Mikhael et al (2010) on "Dessert Red" peach indicated that, trees under deficit irrigation regime had significantly highest concentration of anthocyanin in fruit skin and higher percent of fruit color. Moreover, Masoud (2012) mentioned that fertilizing "Flame seedless" and "Ruby seedless" grapevines by organic fertilizer (compost) either alone or in combination with mineral N fertilizer significantly increased anthocyanin content in berry juice.…”

Effect of Irrigation Scheduling under some Biostimulants Foliar Application for Navel Orange Trees on some Water Relations, Productivity, Fruit Quality and Storability in the North Nile Delta Region

“…Also, the increase of CU under (I 0 ), comparing with (scheduling treatments) might be attributed to increasing the amount of water applied under the conditions of this treatment and hence, the increasing rate of evaporation from the soil surface and transpiration from plant surfaces which resulted from increasing the values of CU. These results are in a great harmony with those obtained by Mikhael et al, (2010) who concluded that, the amount of irrigation water applied for (Desert Red) peach trees were clearly affected by irrigation treatments, where the highest values were recorded under irrigation at 80% of field capacity in comparison with other irrigation treatments 70 and 60% of field capacity. The data in a column followed by the same symbol are not significant at p= 0.05…”

Effect of Foliar Spray With Potassium and Magnesium Elements on Nutritional Status, Productivity and Fruit Quality of "Anna" Apple Trees Under Water Deficit Conditions

“…These results are in full agreement with reported by Ali et al, (1998), and Khalil et al, (2000), who stated that adequate water supply for apple trees in an important factor for maximizing its production. Also, these results agreement with reported by El-Seginy (2006) on "canino" apricot trees and Mikhael et al, (2010) on peach trees.…”