Role of the foliar fertilization treatments on quality attributes of sweet cherry fruits (Prunus avium)

Abstract

This study was carried out in a cherry in 2017 in Suşehri, Sivas. Eight -years old “0900 Ziraat” sweet cherry trees grafted on MaxMa 14 rootstocks were used as the plant material of the study. In the study, per 100 liters of water 250 gram of Azro select, a foliar fertilizer which contains 35% potassium and 5% nitrogen, and per 100 liters of water 200 gram of Zinc salt (Zinc Sulphate Hepta Hydrate) foliar fertilizer, which contains 22 % Zinc, were applied. The treatment was done twice: first, at the end of blooming, second, 15 days after the first treatment. As a result of the study, fruit weight, size, fruit firmness, SSC and vitamin C values of fruits obtained from potassium treated trees were significantly higher whereas fruit color values were lower. However, the effect of potassium on the titratable acidity values was not significant. With zinc application, while statistically significant increase in the fruit size, SSC and vitamin C values have not occurred, the highest values in terms of flesh firmness, fruit color and titratable acidity were recorded in the sweet cherries treated with zinc. The combination of zinc and potassium led to an increase in fruit weight, fruit size, SSC and titratable acidity, and decrease in vitamin C and color values.