Effect of Foliar and Soil Application of Plant Nutrients from Different Fertilizer Sources on Growth of Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] Saplings

Abstract

A field experiment on growth of peach saplings as influenced by plant nutrients from different fertilizer sources and application methods, was conducted at Agriculture Research Institute, Mingora, Pakistan during 2014-15. The field was prepared before November and local peach seeds were sown with 2 ft row to row distance in 5 ft long rows. T-budding with “Springcrest” scion was done in June 2015. The experiment was laid out in RCBD split-plot arrangement with three replications. The main-plot treatments consisted of 1) control, 2) soil application of N-P (100 : 80 kg P₂O₅ : K₂O ha^-1), 3) foliar application of N-P-K (17-17-17 N-P₂O₅-K₂O @ 20 g L^-1), 4) foliar application of N-P-K-S (20-8-14-10 N-P₂O₅-K₂O-S @ 20 g L^-1), and 5) foliar application of urea (20 g urea L^-1), and sub-plot treatments were, 1) control,  2) soil application of urea fertilizer (120 kg N ha^-1), and 3) soil application of Ammonium Sulphate fertilizer (120 kg N ha^-1). Soil fertilizers were broadcasted on 3^rd August 2015 and foliar were applied with small hand pump. The data were recorded from 4th August to 2nd December, 2015 at 15 days interval. Analysis of data revealed that the effect of fertilizer treatments on plant height and stem diameter of peach saplings was significant. Maximum plant height (151.67 cm) and stem diameter (15.98 mm) were gained by plants receiving fertilizer treatment of urea foliar (2%) and ammonium sulphate as a soil application. It was concluded from this study that fertilizer treatments of urea foliar (2%) and ammonium sulphate as a soil application increased plant height and stem diameter of peach saplings and hence are recommended for peach saplings of first year growth.

Keywords: foliar fertilizer, peach growth, peach nutrition, peach saplings, Prunus persica, foliar application