Nano-Biochar Suspension Mediated Alterations in Yield and Juice Quality of Kinnow (<i>Citrus reticulata</i> L.)
Muhammad Yousaf Shani,
Syed Riaz Ahmed,
Muhammad Yasin Ashraf,
Zafran Khan,
Claudio Cocozza,
Francesco De Mastro,
Nimra Gul,
Soha Pervaiz,
Shahid Abbas,
Hummera Nawaz,
Gennaro Brunetti
Affiliations
Muhammad Yousaf Shani
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Syed Riaz Ahmed
Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology College (NIAB-C), Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad 45650, Pakistan
Muhammad Yasin Ashraf
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Zafran Khan
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Claudio Cocozza
Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
Francesco De Mastro
Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
Nimra Gul
Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Soha Pervaiz
Centre of Agriculture Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Shahid Abbas
Department of Environmental Science, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
Hummera Nawaz
Department of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
Gennaro Brunetti
Department of Soil, Plant, and Food Sciences, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70126 Bari, Italy
Nutrient deficiency negatively affects the yield and quality of citrus fruit. The present experiment was carried out to investigate the improvement in fruit yield and juice quality of Kinnow (Citrus reticulata L.) by foliar application of nano-biochar suspension (NBS). The experiment was carried out in a citrus farmer’s orchard with a history of low fruit yield, using a randomized complete block design. Four NBS treatments, i.e., 0% (control), 1, 3, and 5%, were applied through foliar application at the flowering stage. Foliar application of NBS at 5% and 3% significantly (p p < 0.05) positive and negative associations among the studied traits. The results of the current experiment showed that all parameters were significantly improved with the application of NBS at 3 and 5%, except that N, K, and Na levels were unaffected. The most encouraging results were achieved at a concentration of 5% NBS. In conclusions, the foliar application of NBS had a significant positive impact on fruit yield and juice quality.
