The present study was carried out during two consecutive seasons (2013 and 2014) on ten years old “Canino”
apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca, L) in a private orchard at El-Nubaria, Behaira Governorate, Egypt, to study the
effect of mineral (NPK), organic (compost) and bio-fertilizer on vegetative growth, leaf chemical constituents,
flowering, fruiting, yield and fruit quality of “Canino” apricot trees as a trial to minimize the use of chemical
fertilizers. The obtained results showed that the highest values of trunk diameter increase, number of branches/tree,
shoot length and shoot diameter were scored by control treatment, i.e. 100% of chemical NPK fertilization (F1).
Also, F1 and 75% NPK + 10 ton compost + bio (F8) treatments showed to be the most effective ones for inducing
the highest leaf photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a , b and carotenoids) in the two seasons. As for the number
of leaves/shoot, leaf area (cm2) and leaf dry weight (mg) were behaved as the same as the above mentioned growth
aspects, since F1 and F8 were being the most pronounced treatments in this respect. Moreover, the highest values of
leaf N, P and K contents of apricot trees were recorded by F1and F8 treatments. Meanwhile, the highest values of
leaf Ca and Mg contents were accompanied with F8 and 75% NPK + 5 ton compost + bio (F7) treatments in the
two seasons. Furthermore, the highest leaf Fe, Zn and Mn contents were scored by F1 or F8-fertilized trees in the
two seasons. The highest records of flower number/spur, spurs number/branch and blooming spurs (%) were scored
by F1-fertilized tree, whereas the highest values of fruit set (%) and fruit retained/tree (%) were registered by F8-
fertilized tree. The highest values of fruits yield/tree, fruits number/tree, fruit weight and fruit size were recorded by
F1 and F8 treatments in the two seasons. However, the highest values of fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit shape
index, flesh thickness and seed weight were registered by F1-fertilized trees. In addition, fruit quality of apricot
trees i.e., firmness, T.S.S, acidity, T.S.S/ acid ratio and total sugars (%) were greatly affected by the studied
fertilization in both seasons. |
