Influence of Reducing Irrigation Water and Potassium Foliar Feeding on the Wonderful Pomegranate Fruit Quality
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The investigation was conducted during the 2023 and 2024 seasons on Wonderful pomegranate trees grown in a private orchard located 65 km along the Cairo–Alexandria Desert Road, Egypt. Trees were planted in sandy loam soil at 3 × 4 m spacing and irrigated using a saline drip irrigation system (5280 ppm). The study aimed to evaluate the effects of different irrigation levels and potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄) foliar sprays on yield, fruit quality, and irrigation water productivity. Three irrigation regimes were applied: full irrigation at 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) (6247 m³), and reduced irrigation water (RIW) to 80% and 60% of ETc during two application periods: August–October and September–October. Potassium sulfate was sprayed in August at concentrations of 0%, 2%, and 4% per tree in combination with irrigation treatments. Results showed that full irrigation at 100% of ETc combined with 4% K₂SO₄ produced the highest yield, fruit weight, fruit dimensions, peel and aril weight, and juice volume. The treatment of RIW to 80% of ETc applied from August to October with 4% K₂SO₄ achieved the highest irrigation water productivity, total phenols, maturation index, and enhanced anthocyanin content in peel and juice, while reducing juice acidity. RIW to 60% of ETc with 4% K₂SO₄ reduced fruit cracking and improved total soluble solids and anthocyanin content, but lowered total yield. Overall, moderately reducing irrigation with potassium sulfate spray represents an efficient management strategy for improving fruit quality while maintaining acceptable yield and irrigation water productivity under arid conditions.
Source: Horticulture Research Journal
Authors: A.S. Elsoda,, A.M El-Husseiny,, A.A. Hammad, Ebtesam E. Abd El-Hameed, M. A.M. Eid
Language: English
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7128931149