Effect of Planting Density on Growth and Productivity of Pomegranate Trees

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

A FIELD study was conducted during two successive seasons of 2010 and 2011 in a private orchard at Sohag Governorate, Egypt. The performance of two pomegranate cultivars (Manfalouty and Nab El-Gamal) under two levels of plant spacing (2.5x2.5m) and (4x4m) at the newly reclaimed sandy soil was studied. Results revealed that, (2.5x2.5m) plant spacing recorded the highest significant values of tree height, yield/feedan, peel thickness and percentage of marketable fruits. In addition, it reduced percentage of disordered fruits (sun burned and cracked), while it affected negatively on (trunk girth, canopy volume, perfect flowers/tree, initial fruit set/tree, number of fruits/tree, yield/tree, fruit weight, total sugars and total soluble solids) which gave the highest values with (4x4m) treatment. Moreover, Manfalouty cultivar recorded the highest significant values in most characteristics compared to Nab El-Gamal.  
It could be recommended that, under the same conditions of the present study, Manfalouty cultivar trees could be planted under the level of plant spacing  (2.5 x 2.5 m).

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