Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Former M. Sc. Student, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
2
Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
3
Associate Professor, Department, of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
10.30466/rip.2023.121288
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of cow manure and vermicompost on growth and developmental indices, as well as biochemical traits of Shirin Tarom pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with ten treatments and three replications during the 2018–2019 growing season. Treatments included cow manure, vermicompost, and a combination of the two at three application rates (3, 6, and 9 kg per tree) applied as compost, along with a control. The results showed that the highest fruit weight (313 g), length (78.2 mm), diameter (84.7 mm), and juice volume (134.5 ml) were obtained from the 9 kg vermicompost treatment, whereas the lowest values for these traits were recorded in the control. The taste index (19.5 °Brix) was significantly higher in the 3 kg vermicompost treatment. Cow manure at 3 kg and 6 kg per tree resulted in the highest total phenol content (221 mg/100 ml juice) and titratable acidity (1.2%), respectively. Combined fertilizer treatments produced the highest yield (8.3 t·ha⁻¹ at 9 kg) and aril volume (0.40 ml at 3 kg). Although the control treatment exhibited the lowest pomological traits, it showed relatively high values of soluble solids content (14.9 °Brix), total anthocyanin (36.3 mg/L), and antioxidant capacity (78.6%).
Keywords
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