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Foliar potassium fertilization improves fruit quality of field‐grown muskmelon on calcareous soils in south Texas
Author(s) -
Jifon John L,
Lester Gene E
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.3745
Subject(s) - potassium , human fertilization , calcareous , nutrient , soil water , calcareous soils , ascorbic acid , agronomy , soil fertility , crop , chemistry , horticulture , biology , botany , ecology , organic chemistry
BACKGROUND: Among plant nutrients, potassium (K) has the strongest influence on crop quality parameters that determine consumer preference. However, soil and plant factors often limit adequate soil K uptake to satisfy quality requirements during fruit development stages. The objectives of this multiyear field study with muskmelon were to determine if this apparent K deficiency and the associated fruit quality limitations can be alleviated by supplementing soil‐derived K with foliar K nutrition, and whether differences exist among potential foliar K salts. RESULTS: Foliar K treatments increased tissue K concentrations, fruit sugars and bioactive compounds (ascorbic acid and β‐carotene) by 19%, 21% and 15%, respectively, even though soil K levels were high, indicating that soil K alone was inadequate to improve these quality traits. All the K salts evaluated increased tissue K and fruit quality traits; however, no clear trends in the relative magnitudes of these enhancements were apparent among K sources, except for KNO 3 which consistently resulted in non‐significant effects. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that late‐season foliar K feeding can improve fruit quality of muskmelons grown on calcareous soils. The data also reveal differences among K salts and suggest a reassessment of K management strategies aimed at improving quality. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry