Increasing Fruit Set, Yield and Fruit Quality of "Canino" Apricot Trees under Two Different Soil Conditions

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during 2012 and 2013 on 'Canino' apricot trees budded on seedling rootstock at two private orchards located at El-Khatatba district (as sand soil ) and El – Neanaaia village, (as clay soil) Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Trees were sprayed four times at the start of growth in the 3rd week of February(swelling bud stage), at flowering (balloon stage)in the 1st week of March, just after fruit setting in the first week of April and month before harvest with three sources of calcium, Inca (Ca & Zn) at two concentrations (1&2 cm3), Klover Calbora (Ca & B chelated on hepta glouconic acid) at two concentrations (1&2 cm3) and Calciven (soluble CaCl2 chelated on amino and organic acids & 5% B) at two concentrations (1&2 cm3). Results showed that, higher concentration of the studied treatments was mostly more effective than low one. Clay soil supported better fruit set, yield, leaf chlorophyll, Ca, Zn, B and TSS while sand soil encouraged fruit weight, size, dimensions flesh thickness and firmness but also decreased fruit drop.