POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION AND FRUIT PRODUCTION OF PAGE CITRUS ON A PUNSIRUS ROOTSTOCK: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE TRAITS

Abstract

Determination of optimum rates of potassium (K) for high citrus production with great qualitative traits is of both agricultural and economical significance, particularly when performing long–term experiments. A five–year field experiment was conducted in the Citrus Research Center of Tonekabon, Iran in a silty clay loam. The objectives were to: 1) to apply different rates of K fertilizer and determine the optimum rates for citrus high production, and 2) to evaluate the effects of K fertilization on the fruit quantitative and qualitative traits for the production of tasty and great quality fruits for fresh or long consumption. Fifteen–year citrus trees were fertilized with five rates of potassium at control, 750, 1500, 2250 and 3000 g tree⁻¹ on the basis of a completely randomized block design in five replicates. Fruit parameters were determined. Potassium significantly increased fruit yield and qualitative traits at the optimum amount of 1500 g tree⁻¹.

Keywords:

• citrus fruit
• k fertilizer
• optimum rates
• quantitative traits