Influence of nitrogen source on physiology, yield and fruit quality of young apricot trees

• Published in: Journal of plant nutrition 2021-10, Vol.44 (17), p.2597-2608
• Main Authors: Khasawneh, Abd El-Rahman, Alsmairat, Nihad, Othman, Yahia A., Ayad, Jamal Y., Al-Qudah, Tamara, Leskovar, Daniel I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acidity; Ammonium; Ammonium nitrate; Apricots; Brix value; Chlorophyll; Color; Crop yield; Firmness; Food quality; Fructose; fruit color; Fruit trees; Fruits; Gas exchange; Glucose; leaf nutrient; Nitrogen; Nutrient concentrations; Nutrient content; Phosphorus pentoxide; Photosynthesis; Physiology; Plant physiology; Prunus armeniaca; Scavenging; Sensory properties; Stomata; Stomatal conductance; Sucrose; Sugar; sugars; Sweetness; Transpiration; Trees; Urea; yield
• ISSN: 0190-4167; 1532-4087
• DOI: 10.1080/01904167.2021.1918718

The objective of this two-year study was to assess the effect of N source on plant physiology, yield and fruit quality of apricot (Prunus armeniaca 'Mogador') trees. Parameters evaluated included: gas exchange [photosynthesis (Pn), transpiration (E), and stomatal conductance (gs)], chlorophyll content index (SPAD), leaf nutrient concentrations, fruit yield, total soluble solids (°Brix), acidity, sugar content (fructose, glucose, and sucrose), fruit color coordinates (L*, a*, b*), firmness, and radical scavenging activity. Trees were subjected to two N sources: ammonium nitrate [NH 4 + /NO 3 - (4/6)] applied as N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O (18-18-18) and ammonium (NH 4 + ) applied as urea, with an annual application of 150 g N tree −1 . In both years, apricot trees fertilized with NH 4 + /NO 3 - showed higher SPAD, macronutrient (N, P, K) concentrations, fruit yield and number than those treated with NH 4 + . However, Pn, gs and E were similar for the two N treatments (NH 4 + /NO 3 - , NH 4 + ). Comparing with NH 4 + , trees supplied with NH 4 + /NO 3 - exhibited an increase of 34% in total soluble sugars, 39% in firmness, 7% in scavenging capacity, 14% in fructose content, 31% in glucose content, 38% in sucrose content, 64% in the a* value, and 8% in the b* value. Sugar content (fructose, glucose, and sucrose), color coordinates, and firmness are the main contributors of fruit sweetness, sensory quality, and consumer or preference satisfaction. Since high marketable fruit yield is the main determinant for income returns by apricot producers, and considering that application of NH 4 + /NO 3 - (4/6) significantly increased fruit yield and sensory quality components, this N source should be preferred over NH 4 source for commercial apricot production.