Acta Horticulturae · 2002 · 49 citations · 0 references
AgricultureAgronomyCrop SciencesCrop ProductionOilseed Crop SciencePlant NutritionCrop NutritionFoliar NutritionFruit CropsFruit GrowthFruit QualityOil Quality ImprovementFoliar Nitrogen NutritionFoliar Nutrient ApplicationFoliar Phosphorus NutritionFoliar Potassium ApplicationFoliar Potassium NutritionFruit Development StagesFruit Drop PreventionFruit Size Assessment
The experiment was designed to evaluate the influence of foliar nutrition with N and K, also in relationship to the stage of fruit development. The integration of foliar nutrition had a positive effect on the characteristics of drupes and reduced fruit drop, therefore increasing plant production in terms of fruit crop and oil yield. Fertilization with KNO3 during the second and third phase of development of the fruit gave the best results in terms of fruit size and flesh to pit ratio. Oil quality was only marginally influenced by treatments.