Effect of seaweed extract and potassium on budbreak and flowering of Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward Kiwifruit

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, University Campus 2, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Soil Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

10.30466/rip.2023.121286

Abstract

The enviromental conditions and vineyard management techniques considerably affact on budbeak, flowering and fruit yeild. Therfore, in this study the effect of soil application of seaweed extract and potasium sulfate on budbreak and flowering of hayward kiwifruit was investigated. The treatments was appliation of 7.5 g seaweed each vine two and four weeks before budbreak, and 150 g potasium sulfate for each vine two, four and eight week before bud break. The results showed that application seaweed extract two weeks before budbreak significantly increased budbreak (54%) as compared to control (39%). Furtheremore, the most broken buds (84%) was produced flowering shoots in seaweed treatment. The highest mean flower number (1.63) and king flower (1.53) per winter buds was found in seaweed treatment just two weeks before budbreak. The lowest mean flower number (0.79) and king flower (0.72) per winter buds was found in control. However, application potassium two weeks before normal budbreak increased budbreak percentage, but the most broken buds was vegetative shoots. Advance application of potasium, increased mean flower number, king flower per winter bud, and flowering shoots. However, lateral flowers incidence was high. Overall, soil application of seaweed especially just little before budbreak increased flowering and result to increase productivity in Hayward kiwifruit vineyard.

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