EFFECT OF DIFFERENT RATES OF BENTONITE COATED UREA AS A SLOW RELEASE N FERTILIZERS ON LEAF MINERAL STATUS, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF LE-CONTE PEAR TREES

Mostafa,, E. A. M.; Kassim, N. E.; Abou Rayya, M. S.

doi:10.21608/jpp.2000.258582

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT RATES OF BENTONITE COATED UREA AS A SLOW RELEASE N FERTILIZERS ON LEAF MINERAL STATUS, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF LE-CONTE PEAR TREES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hort. Department, National Research Centre,El-Tahrir St., Dokki

10.21608/jpp.2000.258582

Abstract

Two slow release N fertilizers namely bentonite coated urea with thin coated material (4% BCU1) and bentonite coated urea with thick coated material (12% BCU 2) each at 150, 225 and 300 gm N/tree/year in addition to urea (fast release N fertilizer) at 300 gm N/tree/year (as a recommended dose) added to le-conte pear trees during 1997 and 1998 seasons.
Results show that application of slow release N fertilizers surpassed the application of urea in improving leaf mineral content especially N and K, increasing yield and improving physical characteristics of fruits.
The best results with regard to yield and fruit quality of le-conte pear trees were obtained in the treatment of bentonite coated urea with thick material (12% BCU 2) at 150 gm N/tree year.
Total soluble solids, total acidity and total soluble solids/acid ratio were not affected significantly by different treatments in both seasons of study.