Fruit Yield Research Articles

Study on the Synergistic Effects of Plant Growth Regulators and Biostimulants on Flowering and Yield of Ridge Gourd (Luffa acutangula L.)

The study explored the effects of plant growth regulators and bio stimulants on ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L.) flowering and yield. Experiment was conducted at the Herbal Garden, College of Agriculture, Raichur, during the late kharif season (2023-24). The experiment was designed using a Randomized Complete Block Design with thirteen treatments and two replications. Among the treatments, a foliar spray of ethrel at 200 ppm combined with humic acid at 20 ml l-1 significantly enhanced various flowering parameters. This treatment resulted in a decrease in the number of male flowers per vine (107.36), while the number of female flowers per vine (27.53) increased. The sex ratio reduced to 3.90 and the fruit set percentage improved to 75.97%. Also, it led to increases in fruit length (35.57 cm), fruit diameter (3.73 cm), fruit weight (0.143 kg), fruit yield per vine (2.78 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (26.77 t). These findings suggest that using ethrel and humic acid together can be a practical strategy for boosting ridge gourd production, which can be beneficial for both sustainable farming practices.

Water and nitrogen regulation strategy for wolfberry farmland based on nitrogen balance in the Yellow River irrigation districts of Gansu Province, China

Agricultural production frequently encounters challenges, including soil nitrogen pollution and imbalances resulting from improper irrigation and fertilization practices. This study focuses on wolfberry farmland, analyzing the effects of four irrigation levels [full irrigation (W0, 75%−85% θf), mild water deficit (W1, 65%−75% θf), moderate water deficit (W2, 55%−65% θf), and severe water deficit (W3, 45%−55% θf)] and four nitrogen application levels [no nitrogen application (N0, 0 kg·ha−1), low nitrogen application (N1, 150 kg·ha−1), medium nitrogen application (N2, 300 kg·ha−1), and high nitrogen application (N3, 450 kg·ha−1)] on nitrogen uptake by wolfberry plants, soil nitrogen loss, plant-soil nitrogen balance, and nitrogen use efficiency. The results indicate that: (1) Plant dry matter yield (1338.90−2893.52 kg·ha−1), fruit yield (1368.19−2623.09 kg·ha−1), plant nitrogen uptake (28.32−96.89 kg·ha−1) and fruit nitrogen uptake (23.53−63.56 kg·ha−1) all increased with higher irrigation and nitrogen application levels, following the trend W1 > W0 > W2 > W3 and N2 > N3 > N1 > N0. Compared with the other treatments, W1N2 treatment increased by 4.37%−116.11%, 6.36%−91.72%, 15.23%−242.16% and 10.86%−170.13%, respectively. (2) Soil NO3−–N content initially decreased, then increased, and ultimately decreased again with increasing soil depth, demonstrating inconsistent trends in response to changes in irrigation and nitrogen application. The highest residual soil NO3−–N at the end of the wolfberry growth period was recorded in the W0N3 treatment, measuring 186.17 kg·ha−1. In contrast, the lowest level was observed under the W3N0 treatment at 90.13 kg·ha−1, which was reduced by 12.25%−51.59% compared with other treatments. (3) The soil N2O flux (28.50–433.41 ug·m−2·h−1) and total emissions (0.40–1.67 kg·ha−1) increased with increased irrigation and nitrogen application. (4) The W1N1 treatment showed the highest nitrogen productivity (14.29 kg·kg−1), absorption efficiency (0.85 kg·kg−1), and recovery efficiency (27.14%), outperformed other treatments by 0.64–10.94 kg·kg−1, 0.10−0.65 kg·kg−1, and 2.52–18.80%, respectively. Overall, a combination of 392.40 mm of irrigation and 150 kg·ha−1 of nitrogen represented the optimal strategy for efficient and sustainable wolfberry production in the Yellow River irrigation districts of Gansu and similar regions.

Improving Washington Navel orange yield under drought: effects of artificial mulch and shade netting

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the impact of synthetic ground cover and shade netting on Washington Navel orange trees (Citrus sinensis L.) in a semi-arid region to mitigate high temperatures and solar radiation. Over four years (2020–2023), treatments included mulch, shade netting, their combination, and a control. Parameters assessed included nutrient concentrations, physiological traits, growth, fruit quality, and thermal regulation. The combination of mulch and shade netting enhanced leaf nutrient levels, with phosphorus and potassium increasing by 100% and 53.3%, respectively. Leaf area expanded by 82.9%, relative water content rose by 27.7%, and photosynthetic efficiency improved by 136.8%. Fruit set and yield increased by 99.19% and 46.08%, respectively, while fruit sunburn was reduced by 76.78%. Canopy and soil temperatures decreased by up to 17.50% and 19.49%, respectively. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted improved water use efficiency and tree health with these treatments. These findings demonstrate that combining mulch and shade netting effectively enhances citrus orchard resilience, productivity, and economic viability under drought and heat stress. This sustainable approach is recommended to optimise citrus orchard performance in challenging environmental conditions.

Infestation and damage status assessment of white mango scale (Aulacaspis tubercularis) insect at boloso sore and boloso bombe districts of Wolaita Zone South Ethiopia

This fruit devastating pest of white mango scale (Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead; Hempitera: Diaspididae) insect is an economically important pest and damages the mango fruit by sucking the sap through its piercing-sucking mouth part from mango leaves and fruits. Since the 2010 outbreak in Ethiopia due to a poor internal quarantine system this insect pest was distributed and invaded the whole mango-producing region in the country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the infestation and severity status of WMS insects to get evidence for upcoming management investigations. The survey was carried out at Boloso Bombe and Boloso Sore districts in South Ethiopia Wolaita Zone in 2023. Among mango-producing farmers by using a semi-structural questionnaire 45 farmers were intervened through random selection. Geographic location and ten samples of mango leaf were collected from four cardinal directions per tree of each stop for examining the infestation and severity status of WMS. The occurrence of this pest at study locations was in 2016 as interviewed farmers respond. Since then, due to a lack of attention by farmers currently, it was distributed and covered the whole study area. As confirmed by this study the infestation ranged from 60 to 100% and damage or severity rated from moderate to very high. Among surveyed locations, 29% of mango farms were very highly, 52% highly and 20% moderately damaged. From the total study area, almost 31% of mango farms reduced 100% yield and the reduction of yield ranged from 50% to 100%. Before the outbreak of this invasive insect pest, the study area farmers were harvesting nearly 272 kg of mango fruit per tree and at normal times yield reduction was almost 43 kg per tree. After the prevalence of WMS insect per tree yield was almost 44 kg and the reduction of yield was alarmingly increased to 228 kg per tree as shown by this study data. Even though this insect pest is a devastating pest of mango fruit, however, it can be controlled through different management practices. Therefore, the management practice of this pest is categorized into three such as cultural, biological and biochemical. Culturally managed by Mango tree pruning, planting resistant materials, using proper spacing, cleaning or sanitation, burying infected residues and fruits, smoking different repellents of dry grass, animal dung, mango leaves and lemon bark or lemon mixed organic materials in one smoking can/pot and hanging inside mango tree. Foliar Spraying of various botanical extracts such as Neem seed extract (Azadirachta indica). Several concoctions made from ash, soap and goat urine were mixed and sprayed on infested mango fruit leaves and twigs. Various predators and parasitoids are used as Biological control. Soil drenching of systemic chemical insecticides also can control this insect pest. The way to control this serious damage and hinder the expansion of this invasive insect pest, integrated experimental investigation using the above-explained mechanisms will be advisable to enhance mango fruit yield. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 14(2): 28-37, December 2024

Effects of Vermicompost and Rice Husk Ash on The Yield of Sweet Gourd

A field experiment was carried out at the research field of Agricultural Research Station, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Rajbari, Dinajpur (Latitude: 25038 8.9˝ N, Longitude: 88039 5.79˝ E) during rabi season of 2020-21 and 2021-22 to see the response of vermicompost and rice husk ash on the yield of sweet gourd. Five treatments were included in the experiment as T1=100% RCF (Recommended Chemical Fertilizer) + Vermicompost 3 t/ha, T2=100% RCF+ Rice husk ash 2 t/ha, T3= 100% RCF+ Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + Rice husk ash 1.5 t/ha, T4=100% RCF +Vermicompost 3 t/ha +Rice husk 1 t/ha, T5=100% RCF + 50% extra potassium. The results revealed that the highest fruit yield was recorded in (T4) 100% RCF +Vermicompost 3 t/ha +Rice husk 1 t/ha followed by that in (T1) 100% RCF+ Vermicompost 3 tha-1 and (T3) 100% RCF + Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + Rice husk ash 1. t/ha and the lowest in (T5) 100% RCF+50% extra potassium. The highest gross return (Tk. 328500 ha-1), as well as gross margin (Tk. 214600 ha-1), was obtained in (T4) 100% RCF +Vermicompost 3 t/ha +Rice husk 1 t/ha and the lowest gross return (Tk. 151200 ha-1) and gross margin (Tk. 78675 ha-1) were obtained from the treatment (T5) 100% RCF + 50% extra potassium. The highest BCR (2.88) was also obtained from the treatment (T4) 100% RCF + Vermicompost 3 t/ha + Rice husk 1 t/ha combination could be effective for overall productivity and monetary return. Bangladesh J. Agri. 2024, 49(2): 70-78

Potassium Sulfate Supplementation with Elevated Electrical Conductivity Was Unproductive for Hydroponic Strawberry at the Original Yamazaki Nutrient Solution Nitrogen Level

The production of strawberries (Fragaria ×ananassa) in hydroponic systems has been increasing. In hydroponic systems, precise nutrient management is crucial for optimal plant growth and fruit production. Among essential elements, potassium (K) is a key nutrient that affects fruit yield and quality in fruiting crops. The objective of this study was to investigate whether increasing the K concentration in the Yamazaki strawberry nutrient solution could enhance plant growth, fruit yield, and fruit quality in hydroponic strawberries. Bare-root plants of strawberry ‘Monterey’ and ‘San Andreas’ were planted in a deep water culture hydroponic system and grown with initial K concentrations of 117, 194, 271, and 348 mg·L−1 under the same initial nitrogen concentration of 77 mg·L−1. As the K concentration increased from 117 to 348 mg·L−1, the nutrient solution electrical conductivity increased from 1.0 to 1.9 dS·m−1. The experiment was conducted inside an indoor vertical farm at a 23 °C air temperature with an extended photon flux density (400–750 nm) of 350 µmol·m−2·s−1 under an 18-hour photoperiod. Increasing the K concentration from 117 to 348 mg·L−1 had minimal effects on plant growth characteristics of both cultivars, although root dry mass of ‘Monterey’ increased linearly with increasing K. Increasing the K concentration from 117 to 348 mg·L−1 did not affect the total fruit number or total fruit fresh mass of ‘Monterey’, but for ‘San Andreas’, it reduced the total fruit number by 34% and total fruit fresh mass by 45%. Additionally, increasing the K concentration from 117 to 348 mg·L−1 reduced the individual fruit mass, fruit length, and fruit diameter and increased titratable acidity in both cultivars. These results indicate that increasing the K concentration in the Yamazaki strawberry nutrient solution did not benefit plant growth, fruit yield, or fruit quality of the hydroponically grown strawberries ‘Monterey’ or ‘San Andreas’.

Estimation of passion fruit yield based on YOLOv8n + OC-SORT + CRCM algorithm

The precise estimation of passion fruit yield is crucial for efficient orchard management, but it poses challenges such as occlusion, light variations, and camera shake, which can lead to problems such as missed detection, error detection, and double counting of small fruits. In this study, we propose a robust computer vision algorithm named YOLOv8n + OC-SORT + CRCM (Central Region Counting Method) to accomplish three tasks: detection, tracking, and yield estimation of passion fruits. Firstly, we compare the passion fruit detection results using various YOLO series detection algorithms and choose YOLOv8n for detector. Then, OC-SORT algorithm is chosen as the tracker due to its effectiveness in addressing issues like occlusion, vertical shaking, and uneven speeds. Finally, we design CRCM counting algorithm for fruit counting for addressing challenges in estimating passion fruit yield. To validate the effectiveness of these methods, a real-world passion fruit video dataset including 24 videos for each with a 1-minute length was established. In the detection results on the test set, YOLOv8n detector achieved the best results with a mAP@0.5 (mean Average Precision) of 86.3 % and a model size of only 6.2 MB among YOLOv5n, YOLOv7 and YOLOv8n three detectors. Furthermore, the HOTA (higher order tracking accuracy) of OC-SORT tracker was 67.10 %, surpassing three mainstream trackers named BoT-SORT, Byte Track, and Strong SORT by 2.98 %, 4.71 %, and 8.82 %, respectively. In the fruit yield estimation, CRCM demonstrated an average counting accuracy of 87.0 %, surpassing ID number and Single Line Method (SLM) methods by 49.8 % and 10.5 %, respectively. In conclusion, the YOLOv8n + OC-SORT + CRCM algorithm effectively addresses issues of misidentification, missed detections of small fruits, and repeated counts, achieving stable, real-time, and accurate estimation of passion fruit yield.

Impact of Irrigation Regimes on Growth and Postharvest Quality of Pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) under Conditions of Newly Reclaimed Land

Farmers are encouraged to invest in crops that will grow and produce under the predicted climate change, such as global warming, limited water supplies, and drought-imposed water restrictions on agriculture. The drought-tolerant pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a promising horticulture crop that can be grown under arid conditions. To successfully implement irrigation management strategies in orchards, knowledge of plant responses to water deficits, tree shoot and fruit growth patterns, and irrigation management strategies that conserve water is required. The present study described the response of pomegranate trees of the Manfalouty variety to deficit irrigation under the local climate. The experiment was conducted during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The experiment was carried out on a private farm in the Bani Uday district of Manfalouty, Assiut Governorate, Egypt. Eighteen trees with comparable strength and growth were chosen, free of elemental deficiency signs, planted at 3.5 × 3.5 m, with an age of 8 years. Three irrigation levels 50%, 75%, and 100% of the pomegranate tree’s water standard were applied. With the randomized complete block design (RCBD), each treatment was used three times, with two trees in each iteration. Results revealed that applying irrigation at a rate of 75% enhanced fruit quality and yield, mitigated sun sting and cracking, and improved vegetative growth. Moreover, water use efficiency (WUE) was increased, which was reflected in the increase of the percentage of commercial and marketing fruits and decreased production costs when applying 75% of the water ration, which maintains soil and natural resources for sustainable agriculture.

Gibberellin Treatment Toward Off-crop Season as a Practical Tool to Increase Yield in ‘Orri’ Mandarin

Multiannual fruit bearing in fruit trees varies from regular bearing, with an almost steady yield from season to season, to alternate bearing, during which a year with a high fruit load (on-crop) is followed by a year of a low fruit load (off-crop). ‘Orri’ mandarin [Temple (Citrus temple hort. ex Y. Tanaka) × Dancy (Citrus tangerine hort. ex Tanaka)] exhibits a nonregular bearing pattern: steady for a few years and alternate for others. In nonregular or alternate-bearing cultivars, fruit load is thought to regulate flowering induction and development negatively the following year. In citrus, the bud meristem develops into a leafless inflorescence (generative), leafy inflorescence (mixed type, containing leaves and flowers in various ratios), or vegetative shoot, or remains dormant. Mixed-type inflorescences contribute to most of the final yield. Gibberellins inhibit flowering when applied at relatively high concentrations during the flowering induction period in the winter, but they are suggested to induce yield when applied at relatively low concentrations. We determined the effect of mild gibberellin application in an off-crop year on the productivity of ‘Orri’ mandarin, and whether it occurs through the induction of mixed-type inflorescences. Low-concentration, low-frequency gibberellin treatments were applied to trees during the winter when fruit load was high, resulting in a greater number of mixed vs. generative inflorescences at anthesis. An average increase of 40% in fruit number and yield weight was recorded in off-crop seasons at harvest, whereas no change was recorded in on-crop seasons. We discuss treatment efficiency in on-crop and off-crop years as a practical tool for increasing yield in low-crop seasons of ‘Orri’ mandarin.

Dynamic Water and Fertilizer Management Strategy for Greenhouse Tomato Based on Morphological Characteristics

A dynamic management strategy for water and fertilizer application based on morphological characteristics was developed to enhance water use efficiency (WUE) and fruit yield in greenhouse-cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Multivariate regression analysis was employed to determine the baseline water and fertilizer requirements and to evaluate the effects of varying irrigation and fertilization regimes on fruit yield and WUE. A coupled irrigation–fertilization experiment was conducted, and regression models were established to describe the changes in stem diameter and plant height under these regimes. These models were validated experimentally. The results showed that irrigation significantly influenced both tomato fruit yield and WUE, while fertilization significantly impacted yield, but not WUE. No interactive effects between irrigation and fertilization were observed for either parameter. Stem diameter and plant height were positively correlated with the irrigation and fertilization levels. The proposed dynamic management strategy improved fruit yield by 6.9% and 14.7% under the basic and well-irrigated/fertilized conditions, respectively, compared to that of the fixed regime. Furthermore, model implementation increased WUE by 6.93% and 43.17% and improved the economic benefits by 4.9% and 20.6% under the respective conditions. This provides a practical and effective tool for optimizing water and fertilizer management in greenhouse tomato production, contributing to resource-efficient and high-yield farming practices.

Analysis of Trend, Growth, and Instability Index in Output, Harvested Area, and Yield of Oil Palm Fruit in Nigeria

The research examined the trend, growth rate, and instability index related to the output, harvested area, and yield of oil palm fruit in Nigeria. Utilizing secondary data sourced from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) covering the period from 1961 to 2022, the study revealed inconsistent patterns in the trend of output, harvested area, and yield of oil palm fruit across the specified timeframes. The compound growth rates identified were 1.11% for output, 1.03% for harvested area, and 0.08% for yield. The Cuddy-Della Valle instability index (CDI) and the Coppock Instability Index (COI) were calculated at 13.87 and 46.57 for output, 13.87 and 46.02 for harvested area, and 2.52 and 37.88 for yield, respectively. These instability indices were relatively low, indicating limited activity within the oil palm fruit sub-sector in Nigeria. A decomposition analysis of the total effect of the output showed that the area effect accounted for 94.20%, the yield effect for 3.19%, and the interactive effect for 2.61%. The findings indicate that the area effect is the predominant factor driving the growth of oil palm fruit production in Nigeria. Consequently, it is recommended that various programs such as; small grower schemes, oil palm farmers’ cooperatives, and off-takers scheme be implemented within the sub-sector to stimulate increased activities, production, and yield. Also, the oil palm fruit farmers should be provided with quality seeds and financial resources in addition to broadening research efforts aimed at developing high-yield varieties.

Efficacy of Selected Fungicides for Control of Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici) of Processing Pumpkin, 2024

This study was conducted to evaluate efficacy of selected fungicides for control of Phytophthora blight, caused by Phytophthora capsici, in commercial processing pumpkin field in Illinois. The field was naturally infested with P. capsici. Plots of 18 treatments were established on 15 May and harvested on 24 August 2024. Applications of fungicides, at 7-day interval, began on 5 July and ended on 16 August. Fungicides were applied with a backpack sprayer using 50 gallons of water per acre. The incidence of infected vines was 38.33% in untreated plots, while vine infection in treated plots ranged from 1.67 to 23.33%. The incidence of infected fruits ranged from 3.49% (in plots sprayed with Forum 4.16SC) to 45.40% (in untreated plots). The highest fruit yield (68,793 lb/A) was in the plots sprayed with Revus plus Kocide-3000 plus ProPhyt alternated with Ranman plus Silwet-77 plus ProPhyt. Fruit yield (20,916 lb/A) in untreated plots was the lowest.

Assessment of Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance for Yield and Related Traits in Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch ex Poir)

A study on pumpkin genotypes was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm of Banda University of Agriculture and Technology during the 2022 Kharif season. This study aimed to assess genetic variability, genotype performance, variation coefficients, heritability, and percentage genetic advance for pumpkin genotypes. Genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance are critical parameters in plant breeding, as they help identify traits with potential for improvement through selection. This experiment was conducted in a Randomized Block Design with three replications to evaluate 18 pumpkin genotypes. The mean sum of squares attributed to genotypes exhibited significant differences (p < 0.01) across all characters, indicating pronounced genetic variability. Furthermore, phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic (GCV) coefficients of variation were remarkably high for most quantitative traits male/female bud ratio (PCV=37.90% and GCV=37.65%) followed by pericarp/seed ball ratio (PCV=31.39% and GCV= 31.07%) fruit yield (PCV=27.48% and GCV= 26.22%), vine length (PCV=22.14% and GCV=21.85%) and leaf area (PCV=20.73% and GCV=20.31%). The investigation demonstrated high heritability (h²) and genetic advance (GA) for the majority of assessed traits namely male/female bud ratio (98.65%) followed by pericarp/seed ball ratio (98.02%), vine length (97.35%), leaf area (95.95%). The genotypes VRPK-22-04, Kashi Harit and Arka Chandan exhibited superior yield performance. Notably, VRPK-2201 and VRPK-02-07 exhibited early maturity and reasonable yields, rendering them suitable cultivars for the Bundelkhand region.

Genetic diversity, correlation and path analysis in female palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer L.) germplasm- a research article

In this study, 16 female germplasm of palmyrah were analysed to assess diversity among the accessions. The experiments were laid in Randomized Block Design with 2 replications. Around 27 characters were observed during the research, and they were subjected to correlation analysis, path analysis and genetic divergence. The results of the statistical analysis revealed the characters such as the number of leaves per tree, petiole length, number of inflorescences per tree, number of branches per inflorescence, number of fruit bunches per tree and number of fruits per bunch showed significant and positive correlations with fruit yield per tree. The path analysis showed, the traits viz., crown length (0.040), number of leaf segments per leaf (0.795), leaf length (0.845), inflorescence length (0.366), number of fruit bunches per tree (0.687), potassium (0.850), Total Soluble Solids (0.368), fruit length (0.230) and number of branches per inflorescence (0.170), petiole length (0.006), potassium content (0.850), phosphorous content (0.026) and calcium content (0.042) showed high positive direct effect with fruit yield per tree in female germplasm. In the genetic diversity analysis, the 16 germplasm were grouped into 12 clusters. The highest inter cluster distance was noticed between cluster VIII and cluster XI (959.377). The cluster VIII (Acc.11-KP-KKM) and cluster XI (Acc.2-OD -KKM) were showed high genetic divergence and utilized in the hybridization programme for developing superior genotypes with enhanced quality and improved yield. Among the various character studied, the maximum contribution to divergence was observed for zinc followed by number of fruits per bunch, fruit length, calcium and fruit weight.

Impact of Post-flowering Chemical Thinning on the Fruit Yield and Quality Metrics in ‘Fuji Suprema’ Apple Trees

Under the climate variability conditions of southern Brazil, post-flowering thinning is a safer practice than thinning during flowering. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the application of post-flowering thinning agent on ‘Fuji Suprema’ apple when used in combinations. The experiment was carried out in an experimental orchard located in the municipality of Caçador, Santa Catarina, Brazil during the 2017 to 2020 harvest seasons. We tested treatments combining Benzyladenine (BA) with Ethephon (ET) or Metamitron (MM), as well as individual applications of each product at different concentrations on apple fruits. Applications were made individually or in tank mixes during post-flowering periods, with manual thinning when fruits were 8 to 12 mm in diameter and chemical thinning at 15 to 20 mm in diameter. Treatments were as follows: 1. Control (manual thinning); 2. BA (400 ml/100 L) + ET (200 ml/100 L); 3. BA (400 ml/100 L) + MM (100 g/100 L); 4. BA (600 ml/100 L); 5. ET (240 - 200 ml/100 L); MM (150 ml/100 L); MM (150 ml/100 L) + ET (200 ml/100 L). The results showed that the combination of Metamitron with Benzyladenine or Ethephon effectively regulated fruit set and enhanced fruit quality, making these combinations suitable for thinning under southern Brazil conditions.

Effect of Partial Root Drying Stress on Improvement in Tomato Production

Several countries around the world are facing the issue of freshwater availability, where agriculture is highly dependent on irrigation, consuming 70% of this vital resource. Water availability is the most limiting factor for the crop production sector and one of the main regulators of the spatial distribution of plants. It is noted that in recent years, the methods of irrigation water application have been improved. Currently, research is directed towards irrigation strategies that reduce water applications. A partial root drying (PRD) technique involves irrigating one-half of the root zone while leaving the other half in relatively dry soil. This method is used in the production of various crops, such as potatoes and cotton. However, the mechanism of PRD, including the physiological and molecular biological processes involved, is not fully understood. In this study, tomato plants were treated with PRD and nitrogen (N) top-dressing. The results showed that PRD could significantly increase the fruit yield, photosynthetic activities, nitrate reductase activity, and fruit quality in the tomato plants, and PRD could also promote the concentrations of oxygen species (O2−), malondialdehyde (MDA) and proline contents, and activities of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, PRD could enhance stress resistance by increasing disease resistance and NP1 and DRED3 antioxidant enzyme activity. Tomato plants treated with PRD compared to the control showed high photosynthetic activity, high yield, better quality of production, and low leaf blight incidence. Overall, the results indicate that PRD is a feasible approach that could be effectively utilized in tomato fields to improve plant growth and production compared with the control.

Response of Mango Trees to Organic and Biofertilizers to Enhance Crop Production and Quality in Egypt as A Step Towards Sustainable Agriculture. Review Article

The development of sustainable agricultural innovations is critically needed given the twin challenges of climate change and population growth, which jeopardise global food security. These developments have to be able to boost crop yields, preserve the health of the soil, lessen our dependency on artificial agrochemical inputs, and preserve the nutritional value of our food crops. The purpose of this study was to look into how using organic fertilisers and biofertilizers in Egypt affected mango fruit yield and quality. Mango (Mangifera Indica, L.) is Egypt's third largest fruit crop. Mango is the king of fruits; it is highly nutritious, has a distinct flavour and aroma, and accounts for roughly half of all tropical fruits produced globally due to the use of various fertilisers. The response of mango trees to organic and biofertilizers can significantly improve crop production and fruit quality. Fruit plant growth is also improved because they are environmentally safe and inexpensive, reducing the need for chemical fertilisers. Mango trees require nutrients for long-term growth, yield, and quality; however, using organic manure alone has some drawbacks, such as unbalanced nutrition, inefficient fertiliser use, a lack of cost-effectiveness, and low production. Mango yield can be increased by using biofertilizers that carry microbial inoculants while preserving soil fertility. Integrative nutrient management, which preserves soil health, can be critical for mango growth, yield, and quality in the long run. Combining organic and bio fertilisers in mango cultivation can result in higher growth and yield. The practices not only promote increased fruit production, but also improve mango quality, making it more appealing to consumers. Adopting these approaches encourages sustainable agricultural practices, which benefit both the environment and farmers' economic outcomes. Thus, organic and biofertilizers help plants meet their nutrient requirements while also restoring soil fertility. Furthermore, improving productivity and fruit quality for sustainable agricultural systems is a step towards sustainable agriculture.

Influence of naphthalene acetic acid, gibberellic acid and triacontanol on fruit retention, yield and quality of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Banganpalli

A field investigation was carried out on fifteen-year-old mango cv. Banganpalli during 2021-2023 in the coastal region of India at the research farm of ICAR-IIHR-Central Horticultural Experiment Station, Bhubaneswar, Odisha to evaluate the efficacy of some plant growth regulators, namely naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), gibberellic acid (GA3) and triacontanol (TRIA) for improving fruit retention, yield and quality of harvest. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 10 treatments consisting of NAA (10, 20 and 30 ppm), GA3 (25, 50 and 75 ppm), TRIA (1, 3 and 5 ppm) and water spray as control. Each treatment was replicated thrice with four plants per replication. Treatments were applied on the plant canopy thrice at panicle initiation, pea and marble stages of fruit growth. Observations were recorded on flowering, fruiting, yield and fruit quality indices. Application of triacontanol at 3-5 ppm brought out a significant improvement over control in terms of panicle size, fruit retention and yield. Plants sprayed with 5 ppm triacontanol produced the largest panicle (length: 29.17 cm, width: 18.07 cm) and recorded the maximum value for fruit retention (68.93, 53.38, 39.41, 32.88, 26.54, 20.46 and 16.58% at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 and 105 days after pea stage, respectively), number of fruits/tree (104.72) and yield (38.95 kg/tree). With respect to fruit quality, GA3 and TRIA exhibited significant influence on fractions of fruit, dry matter and on most of the chemical attributes (TSS, TSS/acid ratio, total sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar and vitamin C) when applied at the concentration of 50-75 and 3-5 ppm, respectively.

Effect of Spatial Arrangement on Grain and Fruit Yield of Component Crops in Maize/Okra Intercrop in Kilifi County, Kenya

Maize production in Kilifi County, Kenya has been on the decline due to limitations of poor soils, unpredictable rainfall and its cultivation in small parcels of land. Okra is one of the high value crops intercropped with maize in the County. The area under okra cultivation has been on the rise due to increased demand, good export market, nutritional and medicinal value. Intercropping has considerable benefits of maximizing productivity. In Kilifi County, intercropping maize and okra is done in various mixtures, with inconsistence in plant density. Field studies were undertaken in two seasons: short rains (October 2020 - January 2021) and long rains (April - July 2021), at Industrial Crops Research Institute (ICRI) farm, Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) - Mtwapa in Kilifi, Kenya. The objective was to evaluate the effect of spatial arrangement on grain and fruit yield of maize and okra respectively in maize/okra intercropping system. There were four treatments consisting of sole maize, sole okra, maize/okra intercrop in alternating rows of 1:2, and maize/okra intercrop in 2:2 spatial arrangement, replicated three times in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Maize yield data measured included: number of cobs per plant, cob diameter, cob length, cob weight, number of grains per cob, 1000 grain weight, and total grain yield. Okra yield parameters included number of fruits per plant, fruit diameter, fruit weight, fruit length and fruit yield (t/ha). Results showed that the number of okra fruits per plant, fruit weight and fruit length were significantly affected (P ≤ 0.05) by spatial arrangement. However, spatial arrangement did not significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affect the number of cobs per plant, cob length, cob diameter, cob weight, number of grains per cob, 1000 grain weight and total maize grain yield. Moreover, okra fruit diameter, and total okra yield were not significantly (P ≤ 0.05) affected by spatial arrangement. This study recommends that farmers in Kilifi County can combine maize and okra as intercrop in the ratio 1:2 and 2:2. Intercropping maize and okra can enable them get their staple food of maize, and have okra vegetable to meet their dietary requirements, and increase land utilization.

Evaluation of sour-type pomegranate germplasm for field performance, fruit yield and anardana quality attributes

Thirty-one sour-type pomegranate genotypes have been evaluated for growth, fruit yield, physico-chemical attributes and anardana quality in randomized complete block design under hot arid climate. Germplasm CIAH PG-1 had highest fruit number/plant 46.92 as well as fruit yield 12.40kg/plant, followed by Gul-e-Shah R. Pink (42.74 fruit number/plant and 10.98kg/plant) and Tujetis EC-104347 (42.75 fruit number/plant and 9.96kg/plant). The highest fruit weight 263.84g was also recorded in CIAH PG-1. The highest aril content (67.71%) was observed in CIAH PG-1 which was statistically at par with Khog and Bedana Seedless. The highest juice acidity was recorded in Tujetis EC-104347 (3.57%), statistically alike CIAH PG-1 (3.50%). The lowest dehydration ratio was observed in CIAH PG-A-3 (2.23), comparable to CIAH PG-A-5 (2.31). Maximum anardana recovery was reported in CIAH PG-1 (2.23kg/plant) which was followed by Tujetis EC-104347 (1.93kg/plant) and Gul-e-Shah Rose Pink (1.82kg/plant). The anardana acidity ranged from 4.63 to 7.99% and the promising germplasms with more than 7% acidity were AHPG H-2, Tujetis EC-104347, CIAH PG-1, Khog, Gul-e-Shah, IC-318712 and Tabest. Based on nine points hedonic scale, CIAH PG-1 received the highest overall acceptable sensory score of 8.67, followed by Tujetis EC-104347 and Gul-e-Shah R. Pink at 8.37 and 8.23 respectively. In conclusion, CIAH PG-1 demonstrated exceptional performance across various matrices, including field performance, anardana recovery, quality and sensory attributes, which establishes it asthe superior choice for quality anardana production. Tujetis EC-104347 and Gul-e-Shah R. Pink also observed suitable option for processing applications and valuable contributors to future breeding programs.