Effect of foliar application of potassium silicate and amino acids on growth, yield and fruit quality of 'keitte' mango trees

الملخص EN

This study was carried out during the two successive seasons 2016 and 2017 on seven years old 'keitte' mango trees (mangifera indica L.) budded on succary rootstock, grown in a sandy soil under drip irrigation system in a private orchard located at El-Shagaa Village El-Nubaria, Beheira Governorate, Egypt.

The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of foliar application of potassium silicate at (5, 10 and15 cm3 /l) and amino acids at (2.5, 5 and 7.5 cm3 /l) single or mixed on growth, yield and fruit quality of 'keitte' mango trees at two application time; the first application time was taken place at beginning growth season in march, while the second application was after fruit set.

The experimental design was randomized complete block design with four replicates.

Results indicated that foliar application of potassium silicate and amino acids significantly increased vegetative growth of 'keitte' mango by 15 cm3 /l potassium silicate plus 7.5 cm3 /l amino acids was increased vegetative growth as shoot length and shoot thickens and number of leaves/shoot but leaf area increased by spring 5 cm3 /l potassium silicate plus 5 cm3 /l amino acids.

on the other hand potassium silicate at 15 cm3 /l plus amino acids at 7.5 cm3 /l treatment, significantly increased fruit weight, yield kg/ tree and total yield (ton/feddan).

However, foliar application of amino acids at 10 cm3 /l treatment significantly increased fruit length (cm).

Amino acids at 7.5 cm3 /l treatment significantly increased fruit length/ diameter ratio as compared with control.

Foliar application of potassium silicate at 10 cm3 /l + amino acids at 7.5 cm3 /l treatment was increased total soluble solids at the second season but decreased fruit juice acidity (%) as compared with the control.

Moreover, spraying 'keitte' mango trees potassium silicate at 10 cm3 /l plus amino acids at 7.5 cm3 /l treatment increased vitamin C on fruit juice at both season.