Response of growth, yield and fruit quality of "le-conte" pear trees to some weed control

Abstract: The present work was conducted at El-Kanater Horticultural Research Station during 2009 and 2010 seasons, to study the effect of some weed control treatments i.e., two mulching types (black polyethylene plastic and straw of rice), Roundup 48 % herbicide and hand hoeing on some vegetative growth, fruiting parameters, fruit quality, leaf nutrient status as well as dry weight measurement of annual and perennial weed of "Le-Conte" pear trees budded on (P. communis L.) rootstock.
Data obtained revealed that all investigated weed control treatments exhibited a positive effect on weed and a significant increase in all studied vegetative growth measurements i.e., shoot length increase and number of leaves per shoot. Moreover, all investigated fruiting parameters (fruit set %, tree yield either kg or No. of fruits, yield as ton/fed and yield increment % in relation to the control) were improved and significantly increased as a result of using the weed control treatments in comparison the control treatment. Furthermore, results indicated that fruit physical characteristics such as fruit weight, volume, firmness and fruit dimension as well as fruit chemical properties i.e., TSS %, acidity %, TSS/acid ratio and fruit sugar content were improved by the different weed control treatments in most cases as compared to the control treatment.
On the other hand, controlling weed species accompanied the pear trees reflected on the previous results by some weed control treatments. It could be arranged in descending order with regard to their significant effect on reducing the dry weight of weed species associated pear trees as follows: Roundup at 4 l/fed., soil covering with both black polyethylene plastic and straw of rice and hand hoeing twice.
In general, it could be concluded that, both mulching treatments either with black polyethylene plastic or straw of rice were the most effective for improving vegetative growth and fruit quality as well as increasing both fruit set and fruit yield of "Le-Conte" pear trees. In addition, the first mulching treatment was more effective than the second one.
URL
Publication year 2011
Pages 339-352
Organization Name
serial title Egypt. J. of Appl. Sci
ISSN 1110-1571
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    حسين قابيل إبراهيم معهد بحوث البساتين - مركز البحوث الزراعية
    فاطمة إبراهيم إبراهيم أبو جرة معهد بحوث البساتين - مركز البحوث الزراعية
    شعبان محمد حسين معهد بحوث البساتين - مركز البجوث الزراعية
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Fruit crops. Fruit juices. Fruit pulps. Weed control.
Proposed Agrovoc pear trees;le-conte;TSS;acid ratio;fruit sugar content;
Publication Type Journal
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