Effectiveness of Rock phosphate and liquid Bio-fertilizer on fruit quality and quantity of pomegranate trees Wonderful cv.

Abstract

Rock phosphate is one of the natural rocks present in the earth’s crust, which is characterized by its high content of phosphorous. Rock phosphate has been used as a source of fertilization with phosphorous as a substitute for chemical fertilizers that may have significant damage to the soil, groundwater and the environment in the short and long term. Pomegranate is a tree of great economic importance. It also has great health and nutritional benefits, which increases the importance of conducting studies on it to produce high quality fruits. The aim of the research is to study the use of rock phosphate with phosphorous-facilitating bacteria as a substitute for traditional phosphate fertilizers in order to reach the best treatment that gives the highest amount of yield and physical and chemical characteristics of pomegranate fruits. The present investigation was carried out in two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022) on seven-year-old pomegranate trees “Wonderful” cv., planted at 3×5m apart around (420 trees / Fed) grown under saran shading net and drip irrigation system was used. Trees irrigated with drip irrigation system, at a private orchard. The experiment included 3 rates of rock phosphate 1, 2, and 3 kg/ tree + phosphorus and sulfur dissolving bacteria at two times. The effect of different treatments on fruit yield, physical and chemical characteristics of pomegranate trees were evaluated. In this study, the most treatments gave more or less physical and chemical results similar to the control except, trees received 3kg rock phosphate + phosphorus and sulfur dissolving bacteria at two times, which increased yield of seed (kg)/tree, yield of juice (L)/tree and improved quality of pomegranate fruits “Wonderful” cv. comparing with all treatments including the control.