Yield and Fruit Physiochemical Characteristics of 'Kabkab' Date Palm as Affected by Methods of potassium Fertilization

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of different potassium fertilization method on yield and chemical, physical charactristics of date palm var. 'Kabkab'. Potassium fertilization prepared and applied by three methods:1-Control treatment (no fertilization) 2- Soil surface application of 3 kg/palm as potassium sulfate (48% K2O) 3-Foliar spray of potassium sulfate (%2) 4- potassium sulfate injection into the trunk of tree (%2). Higher and lower yield were obtained from trunk injection method and control, respectively. The greater amount of flash weight, fruit weight, fruit size, was resulted from injection method. Total soluble solids were the most in control; however, there were significant differences among treatments. The results of this study showed that mineral nutrients especially potassium, increased yield and quality of fruits in ‘Kabkab’ date palm and between different application methods of K, injection method was better than other methods. Because this method conveys the element directly to the respective parts of plant, using this method could help us to surmount the problem of absorption and transmission of K in date palm.