Effect of Soil conditioners and Irrigation Levels on Growth and Productivity of Pomegranate Trees in the New Reclaimed Region

Document Type : Original Article

Author

El-SabahiaHort. Res. Stat.Alex.

Abstract

This investigation was carried out during 2010 and 2011 growing seasons on ten years old Arabi pomegranate
trees, grown in sandy soil under drip irrigation in a private farm located at Alexandria-Matrouh road (about
80Km from Alex.). The experiment was designed to study the effects of different rates from soil conditioners, Hundz soil, ( 0.0,0.5 and 10Kg /tree) or mixture from (Nile fertile + K2SO4) [Zero, (2Kg + 500gm) and (1Kg + 250gm)] under irrigation levels at 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended water level (5.5, 8.25 and 11m3 /tree /year ) as well as their interactions on growth, leaf component, flowering,
fruiting, yield and fruit quality during both seasons. The results indicated that the highest irrigation level of 11m3 /tree /year enhanced vegetative growth, fruit set, yield as well as leaf NPK content and fruit quality (fruit weight, diameter, length, TSS, anthocyanine and V.C.) while fruit acidity and tannins content decreased. Moreover, application of either Hundz soil at rate of 10kg /tree or the mixture of (NF + K2SO4) at highest rate (2Kg + 500gm) gave significantly the highest mean values of the above mentioned characters during the two seasons. Comparing with trees irrigated with11m3/tree/year level, adding Hundz soil at 10Kg /tree under irrigation treatment 8.25m3/tree /year gave similar effect on improving all growth characters, fruit set, yield and fruit quality except fruit diameter and V.C. Similar results were found with high rate of the mixture (2Kg NF+500gm K2SO4) with the same level of irrigation on all characters except acidity.
Date also indicated that the application of Hz soil combined with mixture of (NF+K2SO4) at both highest
levels for each of them and irrigated with moderate irrigation level 8.25m3 /tree /year gave best growth and
produced higher fruit quality as compared with trees irrigated with 100% from recommended water level.
Similar effects of combinations between high rate of both Hundz soil and the mixture of Nilefertile + K2SO4 under least irrigation treatments 5.5 m3 /tree/year on the previous characters of fruit. Data indicated generally that the best treatment combination was gained from using highest irrigation level (11m3 /tree /year) and 10Kg /tree Hundz soil + 2Kg /tree Nile Fertile + 500gm K2SO4which resulted in the highest values for all vegetative growth characters, leaf N P K, chlorophyll and RWC, yield and all fruit quality except leaf proline, juice tannins and acidity in both seasons. It could be recommended to apply 2Kg /tree Hundz soil combined with 2Kg NF + 500 gm K2SO4 with irrigation level of 11m3 /tree /year to obtain highest production with good quality of pomegranate fruits as well as to apply 2Kg /tree Hundz soil with 2Kg NF + 500 K2SO4
under irrigation 8.25m3 /tree /year or 5.5m3 /tree /year for saving about 25% – 50% of water to achieve the same yield and fruit quality according to the availability of water, especially in the new reclaimed area.