The use of biofertilizerto enhance fruit quality and productivity zaghloul and samani date palms

Abstract EN

The present study was conducted during the two growing seasons 2010 and 2011 at Edko Province, Behera Governorate, Egypt to investigate the effect of mineral (ammonium nitrate) and bio- (Nitrobeen) fertilization, applied either alone or in combinations, on leaf mineral content and fruit quality of Zaghloul and Samani date palms trees.

The obtained results indicated that Zaghloul cultivar had significantly higher values of fruit set ,fruit length, fruit flesh weight ,seed length and fruit total sugar as compared with Samani, whereas Samani had significantly higher fruit diameter and fruit tannins content.

Furthermore, Zaghloul had significantly higher fruit phosphorous & nitrogen and leaf potassium and phosphorous.

In addition, Samani had significantly higher fruit potassium and leaf nitrogen content.

In general the plants treated with 720g ammonium nitrate plus 200 g Nitrobin treatment had significantly higher fruit total sugars, fruit weight, fruit flesh weight, fruit and leaf nitrogen and phosphorous.

In addition 300g ammonium nitrate plus 300 g nitrobin increased fruit set, seeds length and fruit tannins.

Furthermore, 600g ammonium nitrate plus 200 g nitrobin increased fruit length, fruit diameter ,seeds length, tannins ,leaf phosphorous and potassium.

Moreover, all treatments caused a significant increase in fruit weight, fruit set, fruit and seeds length ,fruit diameter, fruit and leaf potassium than control in both seasons.