scholarly journals Addition of nitrogen had no effect on yield and quality of apples in an high density orchard carrying a dwarf rootstock

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 1113-1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Roberto Ernani ◽  
Douglas Antônio Rogeri ◽  
Marcelo Machado Proença ◽  
Jaques Dias

The effect of N addition on apple yield and quality may vary according to the tree vigor. Apple trees developed over vigorous rootstocks had shown no response to N application in Brazil. In this study it was evaluated the effect of N addition to the soil on yield and quality of ´Royal Gala´ apples grafted on a dwarf rootstock (M.9). The orchard was planted in 1995 (2,857 trees ha-1) on an Oxisol containing 40 g kg-1 of organic matter and pH 6.0. The experiment was carried out from 1998 up to 2005. Treatments consisted of rates of N (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha-1 year-1 from 1998 to 2001, and respectively 0, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 afterwards), all broadcasted within the tree row in two equal splits, at bud break and after harvest, as ammonium sulfate. Addition of N to the soil had no effect on fruit yield over the six years regardless of the applied rate. Averaged across treatments and years, fruit yield was 52.3 t ha-1. Nitrogen in the leaves (average of 24 g kg-1) or in the fruits (average of 346 mg kg-1) as well as some attributes related to fruit quality (color, firmness, acidity, soluble solids, physiological disorders) were unaffected by N addition. Some plant parameters related to tree vigor, however, grew higher with the increase on N rate. Thus, it is not necessary to apply N to deep Brazilian soils containing high organic matter in order to assure good fruit quality and yield on high-density orchards carrying dwarf rootstocks probably because the N required for tree growth and fruit production is supplied from soil organic matter decay.

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1405
Author(s):  
Islam F. Hassan ◽  
Maybelle S. Gaballah ◽  
Hanan M. El-Hoseiny ◽  
Mohamed E. El-Sharnouby ◽  
Shamel M. Alam-Eldein

Evolved in South Africa and released to market in 2009, the ‘African Rose’ plum has been introduced and grown under the Egyptian semi-arid conditions since 2010. Within that time, this cultivar has faced significant fruit quality issues, mainly poor color and low total soluble solids (TSS). Several trials using foliarly applied growth regulators have been conducted, but with little conspicuous results on fruit yield and quality. There is very limited information about the relationship between irrigation regime and fruit quality for this cultivar. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to study the effect of deficit irrigation on the quality of the ‘African Rose’ plum during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Five-year-old hedge growing trees were subjected to three deficit irrigation regimes: 100% (control), 80%, and 60% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) after the pit hardening stage until the end of the harvest season (May to June period) were evaluated. Results indicated that deficit irrigation positively enhanced the levels of abscisic acid (ABA), total phenols, and anthocyanins with improved fruit TSS and maturity index, although fruit yield, acidity, size, and firmness were decreased. Deficit irrigation could be suggested as a sustainable novel solution to improve the fruit quality of the ‘African Rose’ plum grown under the semi-arid conditions of Egypt. Although the total yield and some quality characteristics were not improved, the early harvested fruit with enhanced color and taste could be a good start for additional research to solve other quality-related issues under such conditions.


Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Alex Williams Ayarna ◽  
Satoru Tsukagoshi ◽  
George Oduro Nkansah ◽  
Na Lu ◽  
Kazuya Maeda

The issue of low tomato production in the tropics like Ghana has been a long-standing challenge. The advent of greenhouse technology has not significantly improved the yield of tomato compared to Japan and the Netherlands. Immediate technological interventions are needed. Through hydroponics, the low-node order pinching at a high-density planting system has been recommended in some studies. This system was intended to be established in Ghana, and it would be expected to improve the yield and fruit quality of tomato. In effect, a study was carried out in the greenhouse, at Chiba University using this system. A tropical tomato cultivar (Jaguar) was evaluated with Momotaro York at 3.8 m s2 and pinched at the fourth truss. Data collected were water and nutrient use efficiencies, plant growth rate, dry matter partitioning, and fruit yield and quality, as well as some physiological characteristics. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that Jaguar cultivar was two times more efficient in water and nutrient use than Momotaro York at first harvest. Root tissue density recorded in Jaguar was significantly lower compared to Momotaro York. The net assimilation rate (NAR) recorded was markedly higher in Jaguar than Momotaro York at last harvest. All the physiological attributes recorded in both cultivars were not significantly different. Plant dry mass (DM) recorded was similar in the two cultivars; however, the DM partitioned to fruits was 55% in Jaguar compared to 46.5% DM for Momotaro York. Fruit yield per area did not differ in the two cultivars. Fruit yields of 28.8 and 30 kg m−2 per year were recorded in Jaguar and Momotaro York, respectively. In comparison, this yield result is 1.2–1.25 times less and 14.4–15 times higher than current tomato yields recorded in Japan (greenhouse) and Ghana, respectively. Fruit quality, in terms of total soluble solids recorded in Jaguar cultivar being 5.4 %Brix, was within the 3.5–5.6 %Brix recorded in Ghana. This system could effectively enhance the yield and quality of tomato in the tropics as well as economising on the use of resources.


Author(s):  
Roseli de Mello Farias ◽  
Caroline Farias Barreto ◽  
Renan Ricardo Zandoná ◽  
Carlos Roberto Martins ◽  
Paulo Mello-Farias ◽  
...  

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of thinning with metamitron on the fruit yield and quality of 'BRS Kampai' peach (Prunus persica) trees. The experiment was carried out in the municipality of Eldorado do Sul, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in the 2016 and 2017 crop years. Treatments consisted of the application of 100, 200, 300, and 400 mg L-1 metamitron and of hand thinning 40 days after full bloom, besides control plants. Fruit abscission, effective fructification, number of fruits, and fruit yield per plant were evaluated. Regarding fruit quality, fresh fruit biomass, epidermis color, pulp firmness, soluble solids, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity were assessed; fruits were also classified into diameter classes. For fruit abscission, the effect of the application of 100 mg L-1 metamitron is similar to that of hand thinning. Fruit yield and mean mass in all treatments with metamitron are similar to those obtained by hand thinning. The application of metamitron does not affect the fruit quality of peach trees. Chemical thinning with metamitron may be an alternative to hand thinning in peach trees used for the production of fruits for fresh consumption.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 76-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodica Soare ◽  
Maria Dinu ◽  
Cristina Babeanu

This study was aimed at observing the effect of the grafting of tomato plants on morphological (vegetative growth), production and nutritive characteristics (quantity and quality of production). For this purpose, the ‘Lorely F1’ cultivar was used as a scion grafted onto the ‘Beaufort’ rootstock. Plants were cultivated with a stem and two stems. The observations collected in this study were concerned with the characteristics of plant growth. The studied morphological characteristics were plant height, stem diameter and number of leaves, and the studied production characteristics were the characteristics of fructification and productivity (the average number of fruit per plant, the average weight of the fruit, production per plant). Particular attention was paid to the nutritional characteristics of the fruit, to the fruit quality (total soluble solids, total sugar, acidity, vitamin C, antioxidant activity (by the Trolox method) and the contents of lycopene and beta-carotene). The results showed that grafting positively influenced the growth and production characteristics. Grafting of tomato plants had an appreciable effect on the vegetative growth of the variant 2-grafted tomatoes with a stem. The best option in terms of productivity and production was the variant 3-grafted tomatoes with two stems, which yielded 9.2 kg per plant. Fruit quality was not improved in any of the grafted variants. 


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 12326
Author(s):  
Leangsrun Chea ◽  
Cut Erika ◽  
Marcel Naumann ◽  
Inga Smit ◽  
Bernd Horneburg ◽  
...  

Increasing fruit yield and quality of tomatoes under organic low-input conditions remains a challenge for producers and breeders. Therefore, it is necessary to identify superior tomato cultivars that are suitable for production and use as parents in breeding programmes. In the present study, the variations in plant morphology and fruit quality characteristics of tomato cultivars were assessed to reveal the traits associated with improved yield and fruit quality. Sixty diverse tomato cultivars were screened in 2015, and in 2016, a subset of 20 cultivars was selected for further evaluation under organic low-input conditions. The results showed high variability among cultivars in all 28 traits that were observed. Salad cultivars had lower plant growth and fruit quality (minerals, dry matter, total soluble solids, and total phenolics) by 10–70%, but they displayed 10–60% higher fruit yield and leaf minerals than cocktail cultivars. Salad tomato cultivars with superior yield and harvest index were mainly derived from breeding for intensive indoor production. Cocktail cultivars with superior yield were mainly derived from organic and outdoor breeding programs. There was a trade-off between fruit yield and quality, indicating a challenge for simultaneous improvement of yield and quality. The importance of Mg was highlighted because of its contribution to the fruit mineral concentration and fruit quality. Cultivars superior in one trait or trait combination under organic low-input conditions were identified to be used by producers and breeders as superior cultivars to meet their production targets and breeding objectives. The importance of Mg provides a novel path for further research on improving soil-available Mg in organic tomato production to enhance fruit mineral concentration and fruit quality in general.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 471-486
Author(s):  
Josiéle Garcia Dutra ◽  
◽  
Roberta Marins Nogueira Peil ◽  
Tatiana da Silva Duarte ◽  
Cesar Valmor Rombaldi ◽  
...  

Substrate-filled pots are growing systems commonly used for vegetable farming. However, few are the studies available relating them to mini-watermelon cultivation. Our study presents a growing system using substrate-filled troughs and leachate recirculation as a low-cost and less environmentally harmful soilless cultivation system for mini-watermelons. For a growing system to be viable and provide high fruit yield and quality, several aspects must be studied, including substrate physical properties and reuse potential in successive crops, besides plant management-related aspects. Therefore, our goal was to evaluate the effects of a trough system and substrate reuse on changes in the properties of raw rice husk and on fruit yield and quality for mini-watermelons at different stem training. To this purpose, two trials were conducted using nutrient solution recirculation systems. In the first, we evaluated the effects of pot and trough systems. In the second, first- and second-use substrates were compared in the trough system. In both trials, one and two-stem training systems were analyzed. The results of the first trial show that the trough system had a greater positive impact on substrate water holding capacity (WHC), which increased from 7.9 to 15.6%, while the pots increased substrate WHC only to 11.2%. However, both systems neither affected fruit yield (8 kg/m² on average) nor fruit quality. The two-stem training promoted higher fruit yields (4.2 kg/plant) and contents of total soluble solids - TSS (11.4 °Brix) but did not affect average fruit weight. Moreover, the one-stem training provided higher fruit number (7.3 fruits/m²) and fruit yield (9.7 kg/m²). In the second trial, the reused substrate showed a higher WHC (12.4%) than the one used for the first time (9.9%). The reused substrate also provided better results in terms of fruit yield and quality (5.9 fruits/m², 5.3 kg/m², and 10.5o Brix). In the second trial, two-stem training also increased average fruit weight, and hence yields per plant. Nevertheless, the stem number did not affect fruit number per plant, fruit yield per square meter, and fruit quality.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. e130973911
Author(s):  
Roberto Cleiton Fernandes de Queiroga ◽  
Zaqueu Lopes da Silva ◽  
Odair Honorato Oliveira de ◽  
Elidayane da Nóbrega Santos ◽  
Higínio Luan Oliveira Silva ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productivity and quality of melon fruits as a function of the dose and time of application of biostimulant in the conditions of the semi-arid region of Paraíba. The experiment was carried out at the Federal University of Campina Grande, campus of Pombal - PB, Brazil, in a randomized block design in a 4 x 5 split plot scheme, with doses of biostimulant (0; 0.5; 1.0; 1, 5 and 2.0 L ha-1) and in the subset of the biostimulant application times (15; 20; 25 and 30 days before harvest - DAC), in four replications. Characteristics related to fruit production and quality were evaluated. There was no interaction between the factors of dose and application time of the biostimulant in any of the evaluated characteristics. Thus, the highest estimated values of number of fruits per plant, fruit mass and total melon production were obtained with the application of doses ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 L ha-1 and at the time of application it varied from 22,5 to 23.6 DAC. The content of soluble solids increased 5.5% when the biostimulant dose of 2.0 L ha-1 was used and 4.4% when the product was applied 15 days before harvest.


2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Sas-Paszt ◽  
Kris Pruski ◽  
Edward Żurawicz ◽  
Beata Sumorok ◽  
Edyta Derkowska ◽  
...  

Sas-Paszt, L., Pruski, K., Żurawicz, E., Sumorok, B., Derkowska, E. and Głuszek, S. 2014. The effect of organic mulches and mycorrhizal substrate on growth, yield and quality of Gold Milenium apples on M.9 rootstock. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 281–291. A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate the effects of organic mulches and mycorrhizal substrate on growth and yield of apple cv. Gold Milenium grown on M.9 rootstock. Straw (rye), pine bark, conifer tree sawdust, compost (plant debris), cow manure, peat moss substrate (commercial), and mycorrhiza substrate (Mykoflor®, containing mycorrhizal fungi: Glomus intraradices, G. mosseae, G. etunicatum) were applied in spring of each year. All the applied treatments did not affect significantly the tree growth. Mulches did not have a positive effect on total soluble solids of the fruit and the number of fruits in different size categories. Only sawdust mulch significantly increased the number of fruit in size diameter class of 7.0–7.5 cm compared with the control. The use of mulches affected the concentration of macro- and microelements in leaves, particularly Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. Mulches positively affected the pH and organic matter content of soil. The best results were observed with the use of the compost, cow manure and the mycorrhizal substrate, where the concentrations of P, K and Mg, most of microelements and soil organic matter were elevated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 477-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilciléia Mendes Silva ◽  
Sebastião Elviro Araújo Neto ◽  
Luís Gustavo De Souza Souza ◽  
Thays Lemos Uchôa ◽  
Regina Lúcia Félix Ferreira

Studies related to adaptation to the environment and different conditions of water availability contribute to decision-making regarding the management of any crop to be implanted. Accordingly, this work aimed to evaluate the yield and quality of organic yellow passion fruit cultivated in a long root system in dryland conditions. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five treatments and four replications with four plants each. The treatments consisted of the alteration of the length of the root system, namely: T1 = 25 cm; T2 = 50 cm; T3 = 75 cm; T4 = 100 cm; and T5 = 125 cm. At 120 days after emergence (DAE), the seedlings were transplanted to the field and the following variables were evaluated: plant height (cm) and base diameter (mm) at 120 DAE; total titratable acidity (TTA), total soluble solids (TSS), Ratio (TSS/TTA); and fruit yield. The cultivation of tall seedlings with a long root system provides the maintenance of production during the dry season. The TTA, TSS, and the ratio do not change when modifying the length of the root system, although they do change with the harvest season. The cultivation of passion fruit in an organic system using plants with a long root system with an estimated length of 114 cm provides a higher fruit yield (7,472 kg ha-1) in 22 months of cultivation.


HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 1200-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Rodriguez ◽  
D.J. Cantliffe ◽  
N.L. Shaw ◽  
Z. Karchi

In the spring of 2001 and 2002, different combinations of media (coarse perlite, medium perlite, and pine bark) and containers (polyethylene bags and plastic pots) were used for hydroponic production of `Galia' muskmelons (Cucumis melo L.) to determine their effect on fruit yield and quality, and their influence on costs of production. Marketable yields obtained for `Gal-152' in the spring 2001 and 2002 were 25.5 kg·m–2 and 39.0 kg·m–2 respectively. When data were combined for 2001 and 2002, fruit yield and fruit quality were unaffected by any combination of media and container. Average soluble solids content was generally greater than 10° Brix. It was determined that the use of pine bark media and plastic pots instead of perlite and bags would save $18,200 per year (two crops)—a feasible option for reducing costs of producing `Galia' muskmelons in greenhouses using soilless culture without loss of yield and fruit quality.


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