Studies on reducing the harmful effect of saline water irrigation on Picual olive trees [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The present study was carried out during two successive seasons 2009 and 2010 on15-year.old Picual olive trees grown in sandy loam soil, under drip irrigation system using saline water, in a private orchard located at Cairo- Assiut west desert road (about 180 km south Cairo)-Beni Mazar distract, Minia Governorate. The objective of this study was to investigate the utilization of natural elements compounds at three rates; sulphur at (0.5,1.0, 1.5 kg/tree), feldspar at (1,2,3 kg/tree) and magnetite at (0.5,1.0,1.5kg/tree) to reduce the harmful effect of saline irrigation water in this orchard through its effect on some soil properties, parameters growth, leaf pigments and mineral contents, flowering, fruit set, yield and fruit quality of Picual olive trees irrigated using saline water (EC=5 mmhos/cm). The experimental results revealed that treatments improved some soil chemical and physical properties. Moreover, solubility and availability some of soil nutrients were increased in the soil reflects on growth and productivity. Therefore, the greatest fibrous. root density and highest vegetative growth (shoot length, number of new shoots / branch! meter, number of leaves / shoot, leaf area and fresh and dry leaf weights) were obtained. Feldspar at 3kg/tree gave the highest vegetative growth followed by sulphur at 1.5 Kg/tree and the same two treatments increased leaf pigments and leaf mineral contents. Moreover, Sulphur at 1.5 kg/tree improved significantly flowering characteristics (flowering density, number of total flowers! inflorescence and perfect flowers %) while feldspar at 3kg/tree gave higher values of fruit set. Tree yield and fruit quality increased significantly when treated by feldspar at 3 kg/tree and Sulphur at 1.5 kg/tree compared to other treatments In both seasons. Application of sulphur at 1.5 kg/tree gave the highest moisture content in fruits while feldspar at 3kg/tree was the superior in regard to oil content followed by feldspar at 2kg/tree in both seasons. Under the conditions of this study and resembling conditions, it can recommended that feldspar at 3 kg/tree or sulphur at 1.5 kg/tree applications added in three times, January, June and August by mixing with the soil surface layer (20 cm depth) was the best treatment to improve growth and productivity of Picual olive trees irrigated with saline water (EC=5 mmhos/cm).

Summary in Arabic.

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