Influence of Potassium Fertilization on Barhee Date Palms Growth, Yield and Fruit Quality Under Heat Stress Conditions.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of many potassium fertilization methods on growth, productivity and fruit quality of date palm trees c.v Barhee grown under heat stress in Tushka region, Aswan Governorate, Egypt. Applied potassium fertilization (as K2SO4 (48% K2O)) to date palm trees by four methods i.e., control treatment (without potassium), Soil application at (1, 2 and 3 kg/palm, Foliar application at (1, 2 and 3% K2SO4) and Injection into the trunk at (1, 2 and 3% K2SO4). Results showed that the highest vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality were found from trunk injection method at 3% as comparative with control, also compared to other treatments in two studied seasons. On the hand, this study showed that leaf mineral contents especially potassium increased significantly comparing to control. In additions, Potassium injection method was surpassed than the other methods and that may be due to the direct transfer the element to the specific parts of the plant through trunk, applying injection methodcould help us to solving the problem of absorption and transmission of potassium in date palm trees.