Influence of Foliar Application with Some Natural Extracts and Nutrients Compounds on Nutritional Status of Washington Navel Orange Transplants

Abstract

This research was conducted during the two consecutive seasons of 2018 and 2019 at the Fruit Nursery Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture at Moshtohor, Benha University of Qalyubeia Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of some natural treatments, e.g. Algae, Bread Yeast extract, Moringa leaves extract and nutrients as a compound containing both macro (N , P, K) and micro (Fe , Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu) elements and a compound containing macro and microelements and some growth regulators. These materials (natural extracts and nutrient compounds) were applied as a foliar spray to study their effect on nutritional status of Washington navel orange transplants budded on sour orange rootstock. at one-year-old plant. These materials were applied with different concentrations once a month started from the last week in April to the last week in September.as follows: Blue-green algae extract (1, 2 and 3 ml/L), Yeast extract (10, 20 and 30 ml/L), Moringa leaves extract (2.5, 5 and 7.5 g/L). Nitro active 20: 20: 20 (commercial name) (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/L) and Estima green (commercial name) (0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/L). In this study, the foliar application of Blue-green algae at 3 ml/L and Estima green at 0.5g/L resulted in a significant increase in nutritional status of Washington navel orange transplants i.e., total chlorophyll content and Leaf mineral composition (N%, P%, K%, Ca%, Mg%, Mn (ppm), Zn (ppm) and Fe (ppm). On the contrary, the lowest values of the above-mentioned Leaf chemical composition were typically in concomitance with T1-Control (water sprayed) which ranked statistically last during both study seasons.