Roots growth of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) as influenced by iron and copper foliar application

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in the plant canopy of the Department of Horticulture and landscape / College of Agriculture / University of Karbala for the period from mid-March to end of June 2019 to study the effect of spraying with different concentrations of iron and copper on the growth of apricot seedlings local variety.The experiment carried out using Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D) as a factorial experiment with two factors: iron with three concentrations 0, 30 and 60 mg. l−1 and copper with three concentrations 0, 20 and 40 mg.l−1 with three replicates for each treatment. Seedlings sprayed twice, duration from one spray to another one week starting from 15/3/2019. Irrigation done before spraying date for all treatments, at the end of June 2019, measurements taken and the results analyzed according to the statistical design used and the averages compared according to the least significant difference test with 0.05 probability. The most important results were:- Treatment with an iron concentration of 60 mg.l−1 was the highest rates significantly compared to other concentrations in all growth traits.- Treatment achieved with copper at concentration of 40 mg.l−1 significant superiority in most growth characteristics (root length, root size and dry weight of the root ), while 20 mg. l−1 significantly superior in the root diameter.- The interaction between two factors had a significant effect on the majority of growth traits (root length, root size and dry weight of the root) respectively, while the interaction did not have a significant effect on the character of the root diameter.