EFFECT OF CALCIUM AND BORON AS FOLIAR SPRAY ON “LE CONTE” PEAR TREES PRODUCTIVITY

Abstract

This study was carried out during 2016 and 2017 seasons on twenty years old “Le Conte” pear trees budded on Pyrus communis rootstock, grown at El-Kanater Horticultural Research Station to investigate the effect of foliar application of Ca (NO3)2 (1 and 2 % ) and borax (100 and 200 ppm) as individual or in combined on yield, leaf mineral content and fruit characteristics. The results obtained that, the highest fruit length, size, and diameter as well as fruit weight (g), fruit yield/ tree (kg) and fruit yield as ton/ fed. were recorded when pear tree was sprayed with 1or 2 % calcium nitrate + 100 or 200 ppm borax compared with both calcium and borax alone. Fruit firmness and acidity were increased by foliar spray of combined treatment calcium 100 or 200 ppm borax + 1 or 2 % Ca (NO3)2 compared to control. Spraying 1 or 2% Ca (NO3)2 alone gave the highest significant value of N % for pear leaves meanwhile P % was improved significantly using 200 ppm borax + 2% Ca (NO3 )2. Also, K, Ca and Mg % were increased significantly with spraying 200 ppm borax +2 % Ca (NO3 )2. In most cases, leaf Fe and Zn contents were increased significantly by combined treatment of 100 or 200 ppm borax + 2 % Ca (NO3)2 or 100 ppm borax alone .