Eid T. A.* ; Fatama I. Abou Grah** and S. M. Hussein( 2013). EFFECT OF SOIL MOISTURE REGIMES AND POTASSIUM APPLICATION ON GROWTH, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF "CANINO" APRICOT (Prunus armeniaca L.) J. Plant Production, Mansoura Univ., Vol. 4 (4): 621 - 640
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at El-Kanater Horticultural Research Station in the seasons of 2010 and 2011 to study the effect of three soil moisture levels (25, 50 and 75 % depletion i.e. wet, medium and dry) and three application of potassium unit i.e., 500, 1000 and 1500 g/tree. The obtained results indicated that water consumptive use (W.C.U.) ranged between 1255.5 and 934.4 mm in the first season from 1278.6 to 974.63 mm in the second one, corresponding to 5273.1 and 3924.5 m3/fed. in the first season and 5370.1 to 4093.4 m3/fed. in the second season, respectively. Increase of potassium application slightly decreased the water consumptive use (W.C.U.).Monthly water use was low after dormancy, then increased to reach a maximum during July and August. The rates declined to reach minimum during October. Seasonal crop coefficient (Kc) was 0.79. The wet moisture stress level (75 % available water) increased all studied growth characters in the two successive seasons. The water use efficiency was 0.96 and 1.0 kg fruits/m3 water consumed. It was markedly increased with increased potassium application. Increasing soil moisture enhanced leaf area, fruit length, fruit weight, fruit size, while decreased total soluble solids, T.S.S./acid ratio and acidity. The wet moisture stress level (75 % available water) gave the higher yield
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