Effects of Foliar and Soil Boron Fertilization on Yield, Leaf Physiological Traits and Fruit Attributes in Rainfed Almond Orchards
Boron (B) fertilizers are recognized as essential for ensuring yield and fruit quality. However, the importance of soil and foliar B fertilization in almond orchards under rainfed conditions is presently unclear. To address this literature gap, in the present study, the impact of soil and foliar app...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Agronomy |
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| author | Ana P. Silva Alfredo Aires David Barreales Manuel Â. Rodrigues António C. Ribeiro Berta Gonçalves Maria C. Morais |
| author_facet | Ana P. Silva Alfredo Aires David Barreales Manuel Â. Rodrigues António C. Ribeiro Berta Gonçalves Maria C. Morais |
| author_sort | Ana P. Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Boron (B) fertilizers are recognized as essential for ensuring yield and fruit quality. However, the importance of soil and foliar B fertilization in almond orchards under rainfed conditions is presently unclear. To address this literature gap, in the present study, the impact of soil and foliar application of B on leaf gas exchange, leaf photosynthetic pigments, yield, and fruit quality in almonds was investigated across three consecutive growing seasons. Boron fertilizer was applied to the soil at four rates (0, 1, 2, and 3 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) in the presence or absence of foliar application (0.36 g L<sup>−1</sup>) of the same micronutrient. Borax pentahydrate was used as the B source. When compared to foliar B fertilization, the soil application of B positively affected the gas exchange parameters, mainly the net CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate (percentage of gain between 15% and 80%), but did not influence the chlorophyll content. The almond yield and fruit characteristics were also enhanced (about 25–72%) in response to lower soil B fertilization rates. In the 3 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> dose, B had an adverse effect on the yield and resulted in lighter fruits. On the other hand, foliar B fertilization did not benefit any of the evaluated parameters. Overall, these results suggest that, under the studied conditions, almond orchards do not respond to higher B rates in soil or foliar B fertilization. |
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| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:00:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
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| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbba3965c0a941659f90ce056de2aca52023-11-23T14:35:46ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952022-08-01129200510.3390/agronomy12092005Effects of Foliar and Soil Boron Fertilization on Yield, Leaf Physiological Traits and Fruit Attributes in Rainfed Almond OrchardsAna P. Silva0Alfredo Aires1David Barreales2Manuel Â. Rodrigues3António C. Ribeiro4Berta Gonçalves5Maria C. Morais6Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalLaboratório Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, PortugalLaboratório Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, PortugalLaboratório Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha, Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalBoron (B) fertilizers are recognized as essential for ensuring yield and fruit quality. However, the importance of soil and foliar B fertilization in almond orchards under rainfed conditions is presently unclear. To address this literature gap, in the present study, the impact of soil and foliar application of B on leaf gas exchange, leaf photosynthetic pigments, yield, and fruit quality in almonds was investigated across three consecutive growing seasons. Boron fertilizer was applied to the soil at four rates (0, 1, 2, and 3 kg ha<sup>−1</sup>) in the presence or absence of foliar application (0.36 g L<sup>−1</sup>) of the same micronutrient. Borax pentahydrate was used as the B source. When compared to foliar B fertilization, the soil application of B positively affected the gas exchange parameters, mainly the net CO<sub>2</sub> assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate (percentage of gain between 15% and 80%), but did not influence the chlorophyll content. The almond yield and fruit characteristics were also enhanced (about 25–72%) in response to lower soil B fertilization rates. In the 3 kg ha<sup>−1</sup> dose, B had an adverse effect on the yield and resulted in lighter fruits. On the other hand, foliar B fertilization did not benefit any of the evaluated parameters. Overall, these results suggest that, under the studied conditions, almond orchards do not respond to higher B rates in soil or foliar B fertilization.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/9/2005<i>Prunus dulcis</i>boronphotosynthesisleaf chlorophyllyieldfruit quality |
| spellingShingle | Ana P. Silva Alfredo Aires David Barreales Manuel Â. Rodrigues António C. Ribeiro Berta Gonçalves Maria C. Morais Effects of Foliar and Soil Boron Fertilization on Yield, Leaf Physiological Traits and Fruit Attributes in Rainfed Almond Orchards Agronomy <i>Prunus dulcis</i> boron photosynthesis leaf chlorophyll yield fruit quality |
| title | Effects of Foliar and Soil Boron Fertilization on Yield, Leaf Physiological Traits and Fruit Attributes in Rainfed Almond Orchards |
| title_full | Effects of Foliar and Soil Boron Fertilization on Yield, Leaf Physiological Traits and Fruit Attributes in Rainfed Almond Orchards |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Foliar and Soil Boron Fertilization on Yield, Leaf Physiological Traits and Fruit Attributes in Rainfed Almond Orchards |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Foliar and Soil Boron Fertilization on Yield, Leaf Physiological Traits and Fruit Attributes in Rainfed Almond Orchards |
| title_short | Effects of Foliar and Soil Boron Fertilization on Yield, Leaf Physiological Traits and Fruit Attributes in Rainfed Almond Orchards |
| title_sort | effects of foliar and soil boron fertilization on yield leaf physiological traits and fruit attributes in rainfed almond orchards |
| topic | <i>Prunus dulcis</i> boron photosynthesis leaf chlorophyll yield fruit quality |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/9/2005 |
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