PJB-2018-1003
FERTILIZERS AND PLANT GROWTH PROMOTERS INFLUENCES THE FRUIT QUALITY OF YOUNG 'KINNOW' MANDARIN ORCHARDS
Samina Khalid
Abstract
Inferior quality fruit from young 'Kinnow' orchards along with tree decline in early age is a big challenge to citrus growers in Pakistan. Improving fruit quality of young orchards is indispensable to obtain early profit from an orchard but is often neglected by the growers. A project was planned to assess the impact of fertilizers (phosphorous and potassium) as well as plant growth promoters (Wokozim and Isabion) on fruit quality of young orchards. Citrus trees were treated with 0.250 kg tree-1of phosphorous (P), 0.250 kg tree-1 of both P+K, 0.250 kg tree-1 of potassium (K) and one kg of Wokozim (granular) tree-1 before flowering. Foliar application of Wokozim (two mL L-1) was done once at flowering (FL) stage whereas, Isabion (five mL L-1) application was done at FL, pea and egg stage. Fruit harvested at commercial harvest maturity, and were analyzed just after harvest and after seven days at shelf-life conditions. Wokozim application (one kg tree-1) significantly reduced rind thickness (4.10 mm) as compared to control (4.66 mm). The K (0.250 kg tree-1) significantly retained ascorbic acid concentrations (48.10 mg 100 mL-1) after shelf-life. Wokozim applied as soil treatment and foliar supplementation significantly improved reducing sugars (1.6%) after shelf-life. Wokozim and Isabion applications also reduced respiration and mass loss (%). In conclusion, soil and foliar supplementation of Wokozim improves quality parameters of fruits from young 'Kinnow' mandarin orchards.
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