Response of Canino apricot trees to different sources of bio-organic fertilization

Abstract

The present study was performed during the two successive seasons of 2014 and 2015 on Canino apricot (Prunus armenica) trees of ten years old grown in a new reclaimed sandy soil in a private orchard at El-Khtattba, El-Monofia Governorate. Evaluation to different sources of bio and organic fertilizers were performed through the shoot length, shoot diameter, number of leaves and chlorophyll content were following recorded. In addition to, some fruiting parameters i.e. number of flowers/spur, fruit set (%), fruit weight (g), yield/tree and TSS/acid ratio. Dehydrogenase activity, CO2 evolution, total nitrogen, available P and K in soil, the leaf contents N, P, K, Zn, Fe and Mn in dry matter of dry leaves were also determined. Results showed that organic fertilizer treatments used with recommended dose in this study improvement markedly both vegetative growth, fruit set, fruit weight, yield and fruit quality. Also, all sources of bio-organic fertilizers observed that storage studies on Canino apricot fruits showed that highest fruit ability for keeping quality for 30 days in cold storage at 0 °C and 90 % R.H. and 8 days of shelf life at room temperatures (20 -25 °C) was also studied. Algae treatment was the most effective one for increasing shoot length, diameter, leaf number and chlorophyll, chicken manure extract followed in descending order. Algae, chicken and cattle manure extract recorded the highest fruit set, yield and fruit weight. The results cleared that using different sources of bio-organic fertilizers improved TSS which was in parallel decreased acidity in fruit juice. All treatments improved storage properties under the shelf life (room temperature) during eight days, Nile fertile recorded the highest value of the weight loss. On the other hand, chicken manure and algae recorded the least fruit weight loss. The same results were noticed with fruit firmness. TSS % was differ among treatments and led to increase through storage eight days at shelf life but at cold storage (0°C) SSC increase gradually prolonged tell 20 days then reduction in SSC % occur at the last ten days in both seasons. Algae, chicken and cattle extract effectively were superior than all other treatments. Soil biological activity in rhizosphere (total bacteria counts, dehydrogenase as well as CO2 evolution showed a positive response with bio-organic fertilizers. Soil application of algae, compost tea and Nile fertile extract led to increase the soil WHC, organic matter (OM %), pH and TN and decrease EC compared to control.