Effect of Different Rates of Irrigation, Soil Conditioners and Potassium Fertilizer on the Productivity and Fruit Characters of Valencia Orange Trees (<em>Citrus sinensis</em> L.) Under Arid Region Conditions

Author : Waleed F. Abobatta; Rehab H. Hegab and Shaimaa S. M. Atayia

Due to the water scarcity crisis that faces various regions worldwide, there is a greater need for new management practices to sustain citrus production in arid regions. The investigation of different rates of irrigation, soil conditioners, and potassium fertilizer on the growth and productivity of Valencia orange trees was conducted in the Baloza area of North Sinai, Egypt. The treatments include two levels of irrigation (100% and 75% of water requirements) and soil application of two soil conditioners, namely Super absorbent polymer (SAP) and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) were added (50 g/tree) in mid-January, and two rates of potassium fertilizers (480g and 360 g/tree/year). The maximum tree growth parameters like canopy volume and chlorophyll leaf content were recorded in the trees that received 50 g of SAP and 480 g of potassium per tree under full water requirements; furthermore, various treatments enhanced the nutrition status of trees in terms of N, K and P leaf contents and reduced proline content. The highest fruit yield per tree (55.2 and 60.2 kg), total yield (9.40 and 10.23 ton/feddan), and fruit weight (190.0 and 191.9 g) were recorded in the trees that received 480 g potassium and 50g PVC under a full water requirements, while the number of fruits per tree (303.8 and 359.3) were maximized in the treatment of the lowest irrigation rate with PVC polymer and a low rate of K in the first season and in the treatment of a full water requirements with SAP polymer and a low rate of K in the second one. Furthermore, various treatments improved fruit characteristics such as fruit shape index, juice ratio and TSS/acid ratio.

Keywords : Citrus trees, fruit characters, irrigation, polymer, potassium, Valencia orange, yield,

Received:5/2/2023 12:00:00 AM; Accepted: 6/15/2023 12:00:00 AM