Fruit Yield and Quality of Fig (Ficus carica L.) are Affected by Foliar Sprays of Potassium Sulfate

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
B. Gaaliche 1
J. Ben Yahmed 2
H. Benmoussa 2
M. Ben Mimoun 2
1 Laboratory of Horticulture, National Agricultural Research Institute of Tunisia (INRAT), IRESA-University of Carthage, Hédi Karray Street, 1004 El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia.
2 Laboratory GREEN-TEAM (LR17AGR01), National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia.
10.22034/JAST.26.3.623
Abstract
Fruit yield and quality in fig (Ficus carica L.) are highly influenced by mineral nutrition, especially Calcium (Ca) and potassium (K). In this study, the impact of soluble potassium sulfate (K2SO4) foliar application on yield, fruit quality, and leaf nutrient content was assessed during three consecutive years (2017- 2019) on fig cv. ‘Bouhouli’ grown in Northwest Tunisia. Potassium sulfate was sprayed at 2% concentration on leaves of ‘Bouhouli’ trees twice each year during fruit development. This improved fruit weight by 29.5% and 34.9% in the first and second years, respectively, while yield and fruit quality were improved in 2018 only. The fruit ostiole-end cracking, which is one of the fruit quality criteria, was reduced under potassium treatment by 3-fold (17%) compared to the control (53%), in 2018. Also, potassium treatment increased significantly the content of total soluble solids in the fruits during the first two seasons. Besides, K leaf concentration significantly increased after the 2% K2SO4 treatment in 2018 and 2019. These results suggest that potassium sulfate foliar sprays could be used as part of an efficient and sustainable fertilizer program to improve fig tree yield and fruit quality.

Keywords

Subjects

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Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Volume 26, Issue 3
May and June 2024
Pages 623-635