THE NOVEL APPROACH OF FARMING.

THE NOVEL APPROACH OF FARMING.

Evaluation of performance of ferti-activators EPSOMIT and PLANTA on the productivity of citrus variety ´Meksi Ansli´ in Tunisia

Bouargoub, Tunisia (March 04, 2016) – Citrus are strategic fruits of the Tunisian agriculture sector. Maltese oranges, navel oranges, clementines, lemons, and mandarins are the leading citrus crops grown in Tunisia. Production has steadily increased during the last decade mainly for export into EC. However, the farmers facing to huge challenges at the time, climate change, water supply, diseases and increased production costs.

The SANBIO ferti-activators can control biotic and abiotic stress and have positive impact to vegetative and resistive processes.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of simultaneous use of SANBIO ferti-activators EPSOMIT and PLANTA on productivity and quality of citrus variety ´Meksi Ansli´.

This project is being carried out within the collaboration between the Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Plant Sciences, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, the Centre technique des Agrumes, the grower CITRUMED and SANBOS GmbH, Germany.

1.  Materials and methods

Table 1. Basic data

Season 2016
Location Tunisia, Bouargoub  

Picture 1: Orchad
Responsible organization Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Plant SciencesNational Agronomic Institute of TunisiaCITRUMED
Crop Citrus
Variety Meksi Ansli
Trial field 1 block system, 180 ha
Pesticides none
Irrigation drip irrigation
Test product Sanbio EPSOMIT / PLANTA, manufactured by SANBOS GmbH, Germany
Application 2.5 kg SANBIO PLANTA + 200L water per ha, soil application 2.5 kg SANBIO EPSOMIT + 200L water per ha, foliar application, 14 days later
Date of planting 1990
Date of application 08/2015
Date of harvest 09/2015
Scoring Yield, caliber, quality

2.   Results

Table 2. Productive performance on variety ´Meksi Ansli´

Parameter

Unit

Control

SANBIO

Trend

0

1

2

0

1

2

Fruit weight total

kg

639.67

611.53

766.84

829.97

787.47

775.83

Average

kg

672.68

798.42

+19%

Juice weight

kg

292.64

279.35

335.08

395.00

337.42

319.85

Average

kg

302.36

350.76

+16%

Juice volume

L

300.00

290.00

342.00

402.48

343.00

337

Average

L

310.67

360.83

+16%

Juice volume / fruit weight total

%

46.90

47.42

44.60

48.49

43.45

43.44

Brix

%

12.8

11.8

12.0

13.1

13.4

12.4

Average

%

12.20

12.97

+6%

NaOH

0.9

0.9

0.9

0.7

1.0

0.9

12.97

12.97

Acidity

%

0.06

0.06

0.06

0.04

0.06

0.06

Average

%

0.058

0.055

-4%

Maturity

222.2

204.86

208.33

292.41

209.38

215.28

211.81

239.02

+13%

Diameter

cm

76

71

80

76

77

85

cm

72

71

65

68

72

74

cm

68

69

73

78

69

69

cm

63

66

73

80

82

73

Average diameter

70.6

75.3

+7%

Figure 1. Yield of fruits and juice of citrus variety ´Meksi Ansli´

Figure 2. Fruit quality of citrus varieties ´Meksi Ansli´

Picture 2. Bursting of fruits on the Untreated plot (Control)

Picture 3. Earlier maturing on the fruits of treated plants (SANBIO)

3.  Conclusion

To summarize, the present study shows significantly positive effects by use of ferti-activators Sanbio PLANTA and Sanbio EPSOMIT on productive performance of citrus.

The positive effects at glance:

  • Significantly higher harvest (fruit weight, juice volume)
  • Increase of size of fruits (caliber)
  • Better quality of fruits (color, maturity, sugar content, acidity).