IMPROVEMENT IN YIELD AND QUALITY OF KINNOW (<i>CITRUS DELICIOSA</i>X<i>CITRUS NOBILIS</i>) BY POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION

Abstract

Citrus, especially Kinnow, fruit yield and quality in Pakistan is not competitive with other countries, which could be mainly attributed to a lack of good nutrient management for citrus orchards. Many of the soils under these orchards have been reported as deficient in potassium (K). Therefore, work was initiated for improving citrus fruit yield, size, and quality through K nutrition management. Experiments were conducted in four districts of Punjab including Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, and Sargodha and four rates of potash, i.e., 0, 50, 75 and 100 kg dipotassium oxide (K2O) ha−1 were applied using sulfate of potash (SOP) along with recommended rates of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N). Soils of all the selected sites were clay loam or sandy clay loam and deficient in K. The leaf analysis also showed that all the selected orchards were deficient in K. Application of K increased the fruit yield and quality but K at100 kg K2O ha−1 was more effective in increasing the fruit weight and size, and peel thickness than other K rates in all the selected orchards. Juice volume and percentage significantly increased when K was applied at 75 kg K2O ha−1 at all sites. Nutrient uptake like K, P, and N enhanced with the increase in K application rate, however, the highest calcium (Ca)+ magnesium (Mg) was recorded at 50 kg K2O ha−1. The results indicated that all rates of K application improved the fruit yield and quality and reduced fruit dropping, however, 75 kg K2O ha−1 rate was more effective as juice volume and percentage, total soluble solid (TSS)/acid ratio and nutrient uptake showed significant improvement.