article · Plants
Foliar applications of five potassium sources, namely potassium humate, sulphate, nitrate, silicate, and citrate, were tested on Canino apricot trees across two growing seasons. Applied three times at a concentration of 0.2 percent, every potassium treatment enhanced fruit yield, colour, weight, size, and firmness compared to a water control. The treatments also reduced lipid peroxidation and lowered malondialdehyde levels, resulting in improved fruit endurance during storage. Microscopic analysis revealed anatomical changes, with potassium nitrate and potassium citrate increasing cuticle and epidermal parenchyma cell thickness, while potassium silicate produced the thickest cell walls. Among all tested compounds, potassium nitrate proved the most effective at enhancing harvest yield, maintaining quality parameters, and curbing deterioration during cold storage, alongside being identified as the most cost-effective option for local apricot cultivation.
Fruit softening and postharvest spoilage create substantial losses for apricot producers and distributors. Identifying low-cost, readily applicable nutrient treatments that improve fruit firmness, anatomical resistance, and shelf life helps reduce spoilage during transport and cold storage. This offers practical guidance for fruit growers seeking to enhance crop value and reduce postharvest degradation through routine foliar feeding programmes.
This research demonstrates an applied, field-tested agricultural practice ready for adoption by commercial fruit growers, particularly apricot producers. Foliar spraying with potassium nitrate represents an immediate, cost-effective treatment to enhance harvest yields and extend cold-storage longevity without requiring specialised new equipment. Agronomic suppliers and extension services can directly incorporate these specific dosage and timing recommendations into existing crop nutrition and postharvest management programmes.
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This is the first report to study the impacts of potassium sources on apricot fruit yield, quality and storability as a preharvest foliar application. Five sources of potassium (K-humate, K-sulphate, K-nitrate, K-silicate and K-citrate), plus water as a control treatment, were applied individually at 0.2% three times on 'Canino' apricot over the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The results showed that all potassium salts, applied foliarly, have potential to improve yield, fruit color, and some fruit physical attributes, such as: weight, size and firmness, as well as a reduced lipid peroxidation, accompanied by a low fruit malondialdehyde content reflected in a high tolerance during storage. The K-nitrate treatment was more effective in the improvement of fruit yield, preharvest quality parameters and keeping fruit postharvest quality characteristics from sharp decline during cold storage. Concerning fruit anatomy, K-nitrate and K-citrate showed thicker cuticle and epidermal parenchyma cell diameters, while the K-silicate induced the highest cell wall thickness. K-nitrate was the most economical, and could be recommended for apricot growers in the Nubaria region of Egypt.
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DOI: 10.3390/plants10061163
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