The effect of foliar application time of urea and some microelements on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of kiwifruit cv. Hayward

Document Type : scientific research article

Authors

1 Corresponding Author, Assistant Prof., Horticulture Crops Research Dept., Guilan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Rasht, Iran

2 Researcher of Citrus and Subtropical Fruits Research Center, Horticulture Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ramsar, Iran

3 Associate Prof., Citrus and Subtropical Fruits Research Center, Horticulture Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ramsar, Iran.

4 Assistant Prof., Citrus and Subtropical Fruits Research Center, Horticulture Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Ramsar, Iran

Abstract

Background and objectives: Foliar application is a supplementary method for reducing fertilizer consumption. In some cases, it is used to immediately provide plants with specific nutrients and compensate for low nutrient absorption from the soil in early spring due to reduced root activity. This method offers several advantages, such as preventing fertilizer loss from the soil surface, high nutrient recycling, improved nutrient absorption, reduced fertilizer usage, and consequently less environmental damage. Nutrient supply is essential during critical plant growth stages, such as flower induction, flower initiation, reproductive organ differentiation, and fruit development, when there is competition between roots and fruits for nutrient absorption. This study aimed to investigate the impact of foliar application of nutrients on the yield and various quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Hayward cultivar kiwifruit during the harvest and storage period over two years in Astara county.

Materials and methods: This experiment was conducted during the years 2020-2022 on kiwifruit vines with nutrients including urea (1%), zinc sulfate (2000 ppm), boric acid (1500 ppm), and manganese sulfate (1500 ppm) at three times, including before the flowering time in mid-summer, bud swelling in late winter and before sepals splitting in spring. Also, in the control treatment, kiwifruit vines were sprayed with water. After harvesting, the fruits were transferred to cold storage and the quality of the fruit was monitored under different treatments of the nutrient elements application time for three months with one-month intervals. Field experiment and storage data were analyzed as randomized complete block and factorial design respectively. In the factorial design, the first factor was the spraying time in four levels and the second factor was the storage period in three levels. Statistical analysis of all obtained data was done using SAS statistical software (version 9) and comparing treatment means with Duncan's test at a 5% probability level.

Results: The results showed that the yield in the second year was 15% higher than the first year. Winter foliar spraying with an average yield of 98.98 kg/vine produced the highest amount of yield and showed a significant difference compared to all treatments. The heaviest fruits with an average of more than 109 grams without significant difference were observed in summer and spring foliar spraying treatments in the second year. Kiwifruit vines showed the highest fertility index and soluble solids in winter foliar spraying treatment. Foliar spraying in winter and spring reduced the amount of total phenol in the fruit at the time of harvest but had no significant effect on the antioxidant capacity of the fruit. Also, the examination of the results during three months of storage of fruits in cold storage showed that the lowest and highest amount of soluble solids of fruit was observed with 8.70% and 16.33%, respectively, at the time of harvest and the end of the third month of storage of the first year. The total acidity of the fruit decreased during the storage period and reached its lowest value at the end of the cold storage at 1.84%. The highest amount of vitamin C in the fruit was observed at 41.91 mg/g in the winter treatment at the time of harvest, and the lowest amount was observed at 29.04 mg/g at the end of the first year of storage.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of the current research, simultaneous foliar spraying of urea, zinc sulfate, boric acid, and manganese sulfate during mid-summer (flowering time) or late winter (bud swelling) yields better results compared to spring foliar spraying. This practice has been shown to improve fruit yield as well as some quantity and quality traits of the fruit.

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References

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Journal of Plant Production Research
Volume 32, Issue 2
June 2025
Pages 103-127

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