Effect of Nitrogen, Boron, Potassium and Zinc Sprays on Yield and Fruit Quality of Date Palm

Abstract

Abstract: The present research was accomplished on Phoenix dactylifera L. cv. Shahany to investigate the effect of macro and micronutrients on fruit quality and quantity. Treatments were urea (0.5, 1%), boric acid (1500, 2500 ppm), potassium sulfate (1, 2%) and zinc sulfate (300, 600 ppm). Higher and lower yield were obtained from H BO (1500 ppm) and control, respectively. The greater part of pulp weight, pulp/seed ratio, fruit length and3 3 diameter were resulted from H BO (1500 ppm). Total soluble solids were the most in control; however, there3 3 were significant differences among treatments. The results of this study showed that mineral nutrients especially boron, increased yield and quality of fruits in ‘Shahany ’ date palm. Key words: Urea boron potassium zinc date palm yield fruit quality INTRODUCTION traditionally applied into the soil [12]. While soil Date palm is one of the ancient domestic fruit trees in production, it also causes world-wild anxiety about the Middle East countries and their fruits play an environmental contamination for nutrients leaching into important role in the nutritious pattern of many people. In ground water [13]. Increasing public concern, excessive Iran, many cultivars are grown in different regions nutrient loss from agricultural land encourage the