Influence of Natural Alternative NPK and Bio-fertilizations on Vegetative Growth and Nutritional Status of Young Wonderful Pomegranate Trees

Aims: To study the effects of natural alternative NPK and bio fertilizer on vegetative growth and nutritional status of Wonderful pomegranate trees.

Experimental Design: The complete randomized block design (RCBD) with three replications was used for arranging the fertilization treatments and each replicate was represented by two trees.

Place and Duration of Study: This investigation was conducted during two experimental seasons in 2014 and 2015 on young Wonderful pomegranate trees grown in reclaimed sandy soil under drip irrigation (National Research Center orchard) at Nobaria region, Behara Governorate, Egypt.

Methodology: Organic N and some natural PK raw mixtures were used at four doses (500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 g/tree) either solely or combined with bio NPK fertilizers and parameters of growth and nutritional status were evaluated.

Results: Obtained results declared that T1 (control), T2 (organo NPK rocky materials only at 500 g/tree) and T10 (bio NPK fertilizers mixture solely at 300 ml/tree) seemed to be equally declined, followed in ascending order by T3 (1000 g of alter. organo. Rocky mix. Only, T6 (Natural alternative NPK fertilizations mixture (organic N and PK raw mineral rocky materials) at 500 g plus NPK bio-fertilizations mixture at 300 ml. per tree.), T4 (1500 g of alter. organo. Rocky mix. Only, T5 (2000g of alter. organo. Rocky mix. Only), T7 (Natural alternative NPK fertilizations mixture (organic N and PK raw mineral rocky materials) at 1000 g plus NPK bio-fertilizations mixture at 300 ml. per tree.) and T8 (Natural alternative NPK fertilizations mixture (organic N and PK raw mineral rocky materials) at 1500 g plus NPK bio-fertilizations mixture at 300 ml. per tree.) and T9 (Natural alternative NPK fertilizations mixture (organic N and PK raw mineral rocky materials) at 2000 g plus NPK bio-fertilizations mixture at 300 ml. per tree).

Conclusion: Using mixture of organic N and rocky PK materials at either 1500 or 2000 g/tree combined with bio-NPK mixture at 300 ml/tree (T8 and T9) improved vegetative growth measurements (plant height, stem thickness, shoot length, number of both shoots per tree and leaves per shoot, average leaf area and total assimilation area of plant), as well as nutritional status (leaf chlorophyll, N, P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn contents) of young Wonderful pomegranate trees.