Bulletin of the National Research Centre (Dec 2019)
Evaluation of almond young trees growth and nutritional status under different slow-release compound fertilizer types and doses at Nubaria region
Abstract
Abstract Background Slow-release fertilizers (SRF) are quite numerous, and diverse group of materials are involved in the improvement of the effectiveness of fertilization, mitigation of the negative impact of fertilizers on the environment, and the reduction of labor and energy consumption connected with the application of conventional fertilizers. The objective of the experiment was to measure vegetative growth parameters and nutritional status of Nonpareil almond young trees under two types of slow-release compound fertilizers: Matador at 30, 60, and 120 kg/Feddan and Nitrophoska at (25, 50, and 100 kg/Feddan. The experiment was conducted in the Experimental Research Station of National Research Centre at Nubaria, El Behera governorate, Egypt, during successive growing seasons 2018 and 2019. Results The results indicated that increasing doses of slow-release fertilizer significantly improved vegetative growth of trees. The highest dose of Nitrophoska had significantly higher stem length, diameter, numbers of branches and leaves/trees, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf fresh and dry weight while the highest significant of specific leaf dry weight was obtained by applying the highest dose of Matador compared with control trees that received the fast-release fertilizer NPK 19:19:19 at 200 kg/Feddan. Leaf mineral contents of some macro (N, P, K and Mg) and micro elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) were significantly increased as a result of application with slow-release fertilizers. Nitrophoska at 100 kg/Feddan gave the highest values of nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, and iron while Matador at 120 kg/Feddan gave the highest value of manganese. Matador at all doses resulted in a significant increment in phosphorus concentration in leaves in both seasons. Nitrophoska at 100 kg/Feddan and Matador at 120 kg/Feddan recorded the highest values of zinc and copper without significant differences between them. Conclusions It could be concluded that application with slow-release fertilizers resulted in a positive and significant influence on most investigated vegetative growth measurements and leaf mineral contents of Nonpareil almond trees, since the application with Nitrophoska at 100 kg/Feddan was the most effective treatment for increasing growth measurements and improving leaf nutritional status of Nonpareil almond trees grown under Nubaria condition.
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