Mikhael, G.B.Y.* and Manal A. Aziz( 2016). Effect of replacing mineral nitrogen by organic Manures under different irrigation regimes on: B.productivity and water use efficiency of “anna” Apple treesJ. Plant Production, Mansoura Univ., Vol. 7 (2): 217 - 230, 2016
Abstract: This study was conducted through three successive seasons of 2011, 2012 and 2013 to investigate the effect of three irrigation regimes at 70%, 50% and 30% of available soil water and seven fertilization treatments include replacing 50%, 75% and 100% of mineral nitrogen by cattle or chicken organic manure comparing to 100% mineral fertilizer and their interaction on productivity, fruit quality and some water relations of “Anna” apple trees budded on Malus rootstock grown on clay soil at Tanta district, El-Gharbia Governorate. Results were only taken in 2012 and 2013 season.
The obtained results could be summarized as follows:
- Yield of “Anna” apple tree as fruits number and their weight (kg) as well as total yield (ton/fed) were gradually increased by increasing irrigation rate from 30% to 70% of available soil water due to the increase of fruit set% and reduced preharvest fruit drop % in both seasons.
- Application of 50% chicken or cattle manure + 50% mineral fertilizer (F2 & F5) produced maximum tree yield as fruits number and weight (kg) also total yield ton/fed. followed by 100% mineral. While, minimum yield correlated to that fertilized with 100% cattle or chicken manures in the two seasons of study .
- Highest yield kg/tree and ton/fed. were produced when “Anna” apple trees grown under high or moderate irrigation regimes (70 or 50% AW) and received 50% cattle or chicken manure + 50% mineral N fertilizer in (I1 x F2), (I1 x F5), (I2 x F2) and/or (I2 x F5) combination treatment without any significant differences among them while, trees subjected to severe water stress (30% AW) and fertilized by 100% cattle or chicken manure in (I3 x F4) or (I3 x F7) treatment gave the least significant values
in both seasons.
- Increasing irrigation level resulted in a significant increase of fruit weight, volume, dimensions but reduce fruit firmness and TSS and anthocyanin contents. Meanwhile, nitrate and nitrite contents insignificantly affected with irrigation regime.
- The heaviest and largest fruits were recorded by adding nitrogen as 50% cattle or chicken manure + 50% mineral fertilizer followed by applying mineral fertilizer alone while, the lightest and smallest fruits were produced by using organic manure alone. Moreover, increasing the rate of organic manure in fertilization program significantly improved the chemical properties of apple fruit in term of increased total soluble solids (TSS) and anthocyanin contents but reduced nitrate and nitrite contents.
- Data of both seasons revealed that, the interaction (I x F) was significant and maximum fruit weight, volume and dimensions belonged to (I1 x F2), (I1 x F5), (I2 x F2) or (I2 x F5) combination treatments without significant difference among them. While, the least values obtained by (I3 x F4) or (I3 x F7) treatment. In addition, red color% and anthocyanin content of apple fruit skin were significantly highest under (I2 x F2) or (I2 x F5) treatment. Meanwhile, the control treatment (I1 x F1) obtained the least values.
- Minimum values of seasonal water consecutive use, m3 (CU) recorded with deficit irrigation rate. On the contrary, the maximum values belonged to high irrigation level. Furthermore, the highest significant values of water use efficiency (WUE) and productivity of irrigation water (PIW) kg/m3 obtained when tree irrigated at moderate irrigation regime (50% AW).
- Trees fertilized with 100% cattle or chicken manure consumed the least values of water. Meanwhile, tree irrigated at 50% AW gave the highest significant values of water use efficiency and productivity of irrigation water. However, the interaction (I x
F) was significant in both seasons and the highest values of WUE and Piw were recorded by (I2 x F2) or (I2 x F5). Thus, this study recommended “Anna” apple growers to irrigate their trees at 50% available water and apply 50% cattle or chicken manure plus 50% mineral N fertilizer in (I2 x F2) or (I2 x F5) combination treatment which consider the best one for producing maximum yield with good quality, beside, reducing water consumptive use and increasing water use efficiency and productivity of irrigation water.
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