Improving the productivity of "Fagri Kalan" mango trees grown under sandy soil conditions using potassium, boron and sucrose as foliar spray.
Saleh M. M. S., El-Monem E. A. A. A.
Author Affiliation: Pomology Department, National Research Center, El-Behos St., Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
Annals of Agricultural Science (Cairo) 48 : 747-756
Abstract : The effects of potassium, boron and sucrose on the performance of 10-year-old trees of mango cv. Fagri Kalan were studied at El-Sadat district, Minufiya governorate, Egypt during 2001 and 2002. Trees were sprayed with 0.3% potassium citrate singly or in combination with boric acid (0.25 or 0.5%) or sucrose (5.0 or 10.0%) once at the full bloom stage. The treatments significantly improved fruit yield and quality compared with the control. Potassium citrate + sucrose increased the nitrogen and potassium contents of leaves. Potassium citrate + boric acid increased the nitrogen, potassium and boron contents of leaves. The highest concentration of total soluble solids in fruits (19.9 and 22.0% in 2001 and 2002, respectively) and the lowest incidence of fruit drop (74.17 and 81.93%) were obtained with potassium citrate + 10% sucrose. Potassium citrate + 0.5% boric acid was the most effective, as this treatment resulted in the highest number of fruits per plant (51.3 and 57.3), and fruit set (10.53 and 12.70 per panicle), retention (2.50 and 2.17 per panicle), yield (25.28 and 35.44 kg per tree), weight (494 and 602 g), width (7.17 and 7.57 cm), length (14.07 and 14.57 cm), and pulp weight (409 and 498 g).