Gaaliche, B., Ben Yahmed, J., Benmoussa, H., Ben Mimoun, M. (2024). Fruit Yield and Quality of Fig (Ficus carica L.) are Affected by Foliar Sprays of Potassium Sulfate. , 26(3), 623-635. doi: 10.22034/JAST.26.3.623
B. Gaaliche; J. Ben Yahmed; H. Benmoussa; M. Ben Mimoun. "Fruit Yield and Quality of Fig (Ficus carica L.) are Affected by Foliar Sprays of Potassium Sulfate". , 26, 3, 2024, 623-635. doi: 10.22034/JAST.26.3.623
Gaaliche, B., Ben Yahmed, J., Benmoussa, H., Ben Mimoun, M. (2024). 'Fruit Yield and Quality of Fig (Ficus carica L.) are Affected by Foliar Sprays of Potassium Sulfate', , 26(3), pp. 623-635. doi: 10.22034/JAST.26.3.623
Gaaliche, B., Ben Yahmed, J., Benmoussa, H., Ben Mimoun, M. Fruit Yield and Quality of Fig (Ficus carica L.) are Affected by Foliar Sprays of Potassium Sulfate. , 2024; 26(3): 623-635. doi: 10.22034/JAST.26.3.623

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

Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
Article 11, Volume 26, Issue 3, 2024, Pages 623-635    PDF (6.68 M)
Document Type: Original Research
DOI: 10.22034/JAST.26.3.623
Authors
B. Gaaliche* 1; J. Ben Yahmed2; H. Benmoussa2; M. Ben Mimoun2
1Laboratory of Horticulture, National Agricultural Research Institute of Tunisia (INRAT), IRESA-University of Carthage, Hédi Karray Street, 1004 El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia.
2Laboratory GREEN-TEAM (LR17AGR01), National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia.
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
Fig cracking; Fig quality traits; Fig yield; Ostiole-end splitting
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