Boron affects the yield and quality of nonirrigated pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) trees


Açar İ., DORAN İ., Aslan N., Doğruer Kalkanci N.

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, vol.40, no.5, pp.664-670, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 40 Issue: 5
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.3906/tar-1511-80
  • Journal Name: Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.664-670
  • Keywords: Boron, Pistachio, Quality, Tarımbor, Yield
  • Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© TÜBİTAK.In Turkey, more than 95% of the pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) orchards are not irrigated. Therefore, a 4-year field trial was conducted to determine the effect of Tarımbor fertiliser (containing 18.5% boron [B]) on the yield, quality, and B content of two pistachio cultivars (‘Uzun’ and ‘Siirt’) planted under nonirrigated conditions. Tarımbor was applied to the pistachio trees as a soil application (0, 200, 400, and 600 g/tree) and a foliar spray (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% w/v, using a tractor-mounted sprayer at the ‘early bud break’ stage and the ‘fully leafed out’ stage). Both the soil and foliar applications of Tarımbor had a significant effect on the pistachio yield, quality, and B content compared with the control. However, the foliar application resulted in greater improvements in the B content of leaves in both cultivars and the split nut ratio and kernel ratio in ‘Uzun’. The greatest increases in yield were observed for the 0.3% foliar application for ‘Uzun’ (30%) and the 200 g/tree soil application for ‘Siirt’ (59%). In terms of quality, the application of Tarımbor appeared to have a greater effect on ‘Uzun’ than on ‘Siirt’. No vegetative symptoms of B toxicity were observed in either cultivar when high concentrations of B were applied. Thus, Tarımbor could be used effectively as a foliar spray to enhance the B levels in the leaves of pistachio trees grown under nonirrigated conditions.