INFLUENCE OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER ON GROWTH, FRUITING PARAMETERS AND FRUIT QUALITY OF PEACH TREES IRRIGATED BY ACIDIC WATER

This investigation was carried out to study the effect of P fertilizer sources i. e superphosphate (15.0 % soluble water P2O5) at 2.0 kg/tree, rock phosphate (6.25% total P2O5) at 4.8 kg/tree and without P addition under irrigation by acidic water at three levels from sulphoric acid i.e., without, 5 and 10 L/fed., on some vegetative growth and fruiting measurements as well as fruit and leaf nutrient content of peach trees Florida Prins cv. budded on Nemagard rootstock. The trees were 7 years old, grown at Sobk Village, Ashmoon, Monofia Governorate, Egypt, during 2012 and 2013 seasons. Obtained results reveal that the two tested P sources super or rock phosphate induced significant increases in vegetative growth, fruit yield and fruiting measurements as well as fruit and leaf nutrient content compared to without P addition (control) with superiority for superphosphate fertilizer which yielded more fruit yield / tree and yield/ fed., than rock phosphate in both seasons. Also, data show that the fruit quality including fruit physical properties and fruit chemical characteristics as well as fruit and leaf nutrient content were significantly improved as a result of the irrigation by acidic water compared to non acidic one. Furthermore, fruit yield quantity and quality as well as fruit and leaf nutrient composition of some macro elements (N, P and K) and some micro nutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) were improved by adding sulphoric acid to irrigation water for both P fertilizer sources super or rock phosphate from the standpoint of statistic during both 2012 and 2013 seasons.