Effect of compost tea and some antioxidant applications on leaf chemical constituents, yield and fruit quality of pomegranate.

摘要

Seven years old Manfalouty pomegranate trees grown at Tanbol region, Wadi EL-Natroon district, Behira Governorate, Egypt were used in this study. Two applications of compost tea (Foliar and soil applications each at 5 liter/tree) beside control trees with or without three foliar antioxidant treatments (ascorbic acid, citric acid and ascorbic+citric acids). All leaf chemical constituents, yield and fruit quality were increased in the second season than in the first one. In addition, foliar application of compost tea gave the higher leaf mineral and pigments contents, yield and fruit parameters than soil application of compost tea. As well as, ascorbic+citric acids gave the highest results followed by ascorbic acid then citric acid in descending order. Concerning the interaction between seasons, application of compost tea and antioxidant treatments, foliar application of compost tea with double combined antioxidants treatment (ascorbic+citric acid) gave the highest leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, chlorophyll a and b contents, tree yield, fruit physical parameters (fruit weight, volume, length, diameter, juice and grain) and fruit chemical parameters (total sugars, vitamin C, total anthocyanin, TSS and TSS/acid ratio) in the second season in comparison with other studied treatments in both seasons. Also, the same treatment gave the lowest leaf proline content, fruit cracking and fruit acidity in both seasons.