Pomegranate Trees Productivity in Response to Three Levels of Irrigation and Slow or Fast Nitrogen Release Fertilizer as Well as their Combinations.

Abstract

This investigation was carried out during two successive seasons of 2014 and 2015 on mature pomegranate trees cv. Manfalouty grown in calcareous soil at Borg-El-Arab region, Alexandria governorate, Egypt. It was conducted to determine if a combination of fast or slow release (i e phosphorus coated urea PCU 37%) nitrogen fertilizer with different levels of soil moisture can enhance growth of Manfalouty pomegranate trees with high productivity as compared to the current production practices as well as to reduce both rate and number of soil applications during the growing season. The results showed that all vegetative growth, leaf mineral contents and fruit characteristics parameters were significantly affected by interaction between levels of soil moisture of field capacity (FC) and slow-release nitrogen fertilizer. The chemical fruit characteristics, i e TSS, TSS/ acidity, vitamin C and anthocyanin were the maximum values at 50% FC + 400 g actual slow release nitrogen fertilizer, while the acidity value was the highest in the treatment of 100% FC + 200 g/tree as a slow release nitrogen fertilizer in both seasons. The fruit set was the maximum at 75% FC +200 or 300 g actual slow release nitrogen fertilizer in the first and second seasons, respectively. Also, yield showed the highest significant values of 44.1 and 47.1 Kg/tree with the treatment of 100% FC+ 400 g/tree in the first and second seasons, respectively. Moreover, the results showed that the combination between the 100% FC irrigation treatment and the highest amount of slow release fertilizer of 400 g actual slow release nitrogen fertilizer /tree produced the highest values of most vegetative growth traits i.e., tree height, shoot length, dry weight of 30 leaves, and chlorophyll content (SPAD) in both seasons. Also leaf nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium content was increased under such conditions.

Co-application of mineral and organic fertilizers under deficit irrigation improves the fruit quality of the Wonderful pomegranate

“…However, reducing the amount of water to 60% ETc resulted in lower quality fruit. These findings agree with those of Khattab et al (2011) and Abdel-Sattar & Mohamed (2017) , who concluded that deficit irrigation could improve vitamin C, anthocyanin, and TSS content, increase TSS/acidity ratio, and reduce acidity in pomegranate fruit. Similarly, Mena et al (2013) found that reducing the irrigation levels to 43% and 12% of ET 0 dramatically reduced the amount of bioactive phenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanin, in pomegranate fruit, which accordingly caused the color of the aril juice to become more yellowish.…”

“…Similarly, Mena et al (2013) found that reduced irrigation caused a dramatic reduction in bioactive phenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanin, in pomegranate fruit, which resulted in color changes to the juice (it became more yellowish). The results of Gelly et al (2003) for peach, Laribi et al (2013) for Mollar de Elche pomegranate, Abdel-Sattar & Mohamed (2017) for Manfalouty pomegranate, and Martínez-Nicolás et al (2019) for the Wonderful and Mollar de Elche pomegranate cultivars are also in agreement with our findings.…”

“…In 2019, the 80% ETc treatment significantly increased all chemical properties of fruit except acidity and reducing sugar content. In general, these results agree with those of Abdel-Sattar & Mohamed (2017) , who reported that fruit quality indexes such as TSS/acidity ratio, TSS, and acidity, as well as anthocyanin and vitamin C content, increased under deficit irrigation in Manfalouty pomegranate fruit, whereas the acidity of the fruit juice decreased. Our results also support those reported by Laribi et al (2013) , Intrigliolo et al (2013) , and Martnez-Nicols et al (2019) for other pomegranate cultivars.…”

“…Thus, the water deficit is a limiting factor for Wonderful pomegranate fruit quality. Abdel-Sattar & Mohamed (2017) reported similar results, i.e., that deficit irrigation management was generally the main reason for reduced fruit volume and weight as well as shape index in Manfalouty pomegranate fruit. In addition, our results were in agreement with the findings of Rodrguez et al (2012) , Mellisho et al (2012) , Intrigliolo et al (2013) , Mena et al (2013) , Galindo et al (2014) , Parvizi, Sepaskhah & Ahmadi (2014) , and Centofanti et al (2017) .…”

Response of Pomegranate " Cv. Wonderful" Transplants to Mineral Nutrition and Gibberrelic Acid

“…Several studies were conducted to determine the role of mineral nutrition in growth and leaf minerals, Abd-Ella et al, (1) Mentioned that fertilizing by N.P.K. on pomegranate had a significant effect on shoots length, leaves number, leaf area index, leaf chlorophyll content and leaf content of N.P.K., Abdel-Sattar and Mohammed (2) found that Nitrogen application on pomegranate significantly increased leaf dry weight and leaf content of N.P.K., Al-Douri (4) recommended in his thesis fertilizing of soil by N.P.K. because was most effective to increasing traits was studied on "CV.…”