Spraying macro and micro fertilizers affects positively fruit yield and quality of ‘Page’ mandarin
In the current work, the effects of foliar application of two commercial fertilizers [CalfalB (containing calcium and boron) and Rice (containing macro- and micronutrients)] on leaf minerals, chlorophyll content, yield, and fruit quality, as well as some phytochemical characteristics of mandarins ‘P...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)
2024-07-01
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| Series: | Acta Agriculturae Slovenica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.uni-lj.si/aas/article/view/18157 |
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| Summary: | In the current work, the effects of foliar application of two commercial fertilizers [CalfalB (containing calcium and boron) and Rice (containing macro- and micronutrients)] on leaf minerals, chlorophyll content, yield, and fruit quality, as well as some phytochemical characteristics of mandarins ‘Page’ was investigated for two consecutive years. The solutions were applied three times: mid-June and two more sprays at intervals of 18 days. Based on the results, leaves of fertilized mandarin plants with Rice and CalfalB accumulated higher N, P K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Mn, and Fe concentrations than unfertilized plants. Application of fertilizers, especially Rice, increased significantly the content of chlorophyll a (p < 0.001) and total chlorophyll (p = 0.0013) in the leaves. Trees fertilized with Rice showed a higher percentage of fruit yield, juice, pulp, and rind. Moreover, mandarins treated with fertilizers, especially Rice, had a higher level of TSS (total soluble solids), TSS/TA (titratable acidity), color parameters of the rind [L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness)], vitamin C, phenol compounds, carotenoid, and antioxidant activity. The results of our research work showed that an application of fertilizers containing macro- and microelements by spraying can considerably improve fruit yield and quality of the mandarin ‘Page’, especially in areas with poor soils. |
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| ISSN: | 1854-1941 |