EFFECT OF ZN, CU AND FE FOLIAR APPLICATION ON FRUIT SET AND SOME QUALITY AND QUANTITY CHARACTERISTICS OF PISTACHIO TREES

Abstract

Fruit dropping in pistachio orchards is one of the numerous problems which country’s orchard men face with it. Therefore, experiment was carried out based on factorial and randomized complete block design with 12 treatments and 4 replications in 25-year-old trees with Owhadi cultivar in 2010 and 2011. Zn was supplied from zinc sulfate source in three levels (0, 1000 and 2000 mg L), Cu was supplied from copper sulfate source in two levels (0and 200mg L) and Fe was supplied from iron sulfate source in two levels (0 and 300mg L). Results revealed that the highest level of primary fruit set was detected in a combination of Fe and Zn (1000 mg L). The maximum final fruit set percentage was measured in a combination of Fe and Cu. The highest of Splitting rate was detected in a combination of Cu and Fe and the lowest one in control. But spray of Zn, Cu and Fe did not affect the blankness compared with the control. Highest yield was produced in two levels of Zn and maximum vegetative growth took place in Cu treatment. Foliar application with Zn, Cu and Fe increased the Zn, Cu and Fe concentration of leaves, respectively.