Effect of Organic and NPK Fertilizers and Foliar Spray of Boron on Flowering, Yield and Some Physical Characteristics of Pomegranate's Fruit cv. "Salimi".

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in a private orchard in Owainat village ( 15 km southern of Tikrit ) , during 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. Pomegranate trees cv."Salimi" which were six years old, were fertilized with three doses of manure ( sheep manure ) ( 0 , 4 and 8 Kg/tree ) and one dose of NPK ( 322 N : 105 P : 168 K g / tree ) , and sprayed three times every season with three concentrations of boron ( 0 , 50 and 100 mg/L ). The treatments was arranged on R.C.B.D design. The results obtained that manure increased significantly fruit juice percentage in the first season and fruit set in second season, and decreased fruits drop and fruit cracking percentage in the second season. The NPK fertilizer increased significantly fruit set in the first season, yield and fruit juice percentage in both seasons, and decreased fruit drop and peel thickness in both seasons. The foliar spray of boron increased significantly fruit set in both seasons and fruit juice percentage in the second season, and it decreased significantly shorthand flowers percentage in both seasons, and fruits drop in the second season. The best treatment was NPK + 50 mg B/L, which gave a high yield for tree and fruit juice percentage.