Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Former M.Sc. Student, Department of Horticulture and Landscape, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Horticulture and Landscape, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran

Abstract

In order to study the effects of foliar application of nitrogen with nano-and urea chemical fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of bitter apple, an experiment has been conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Institute, University of Zabol during 2019.Theexperimental treatment includes foliar application of nano-N (1000 and 2000 mg/l), urea (1% and 2%), and control. Results show that foliar application of N has had a significant effect on yield and number of fruit per bush, and shoot length, whereas it has had no effect on fruit average weight, fruit length and diameter. The highest yield per bush belongs to nano-N at 2000 mg/l concentration (961.08g) and urea at 2% concentration (864.66g) and, the highest amount of fruit number per bush (12) is found in nano-N at 2000 mg/l concentration. The highest weight of 100 seeds and seed protein are obtained from the foliar application of nano-N at concentration of 2000 mg/l and urea at 2% concentration. Seed phenol content, seed soluble carbohydrates, and oil percentage have been reduced by applying nitrogen treatments to the control. Foliar application of N has increased leaf N concentration, while having no effect on the leaf concentrations of P, K, and Zn. Given that in most measured quantitative and qualitative traits, the application of nano-N fertilizer at 2000 mg/l concentration shows better results than other treatments, this treatment can be recommended to reduce economic and environmental costs.

Keywords

Agrawal, S. & Rathore, P. (2014). Nanotechnology pros and cons to agriculture: A review. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Science, 3, 43-55. DOI: 10.13140/2.1.3352.1283.
Aguirrezábal, L., Martre, P., Pereyra-Irujo, G., Echarte, M.M & Izquierdo, N. (2015). Improving grain quality: ecophysiological and modeling tools to develop management and breeding strategies. In Crop physiology (pp. 423-465). Academic Press.
Al-Ghaithi, F., El-Ridi, M.R., Adeghate, E. & Amiri, M.H. (2004). Biochemical effects of Citrullus colocynthis in normal and diabetic rats. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 261(1), 143-149. DOI: 10.1023/B:MCBI.0000028749.63101.cc.
Asma, B.M., Colak, S., Akca, Y. & Genc, C. (2007). Effect of fertilizer rate on the growth, yield and fruit characteristics of dried apricot (cv. Hacihaliloglu). Asian Journal of Plant Sciences6(2), 294-297. DOI: 10.3923/ajps.2007.294.297.
Bahmanyar, M.A. & Mashaee, S.S. (2010). Influences of nitrogen and potassium top dressing on yield and yield components as well as their accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa). African Journal of biotechnology, 9(18), 2648-2653.
Chapman, H.D. & Pratt, P.F. (1961). Methods of Analysis for Soils, Plants and Water. University of California, Berkeley, CA, U.S.A.
Cottenie, A. (1980). Soil and plant testing as a basis of fertilizer recommendations. FAO Soils Bull, 38: 70-73.
Davarpanah, S., Tehranifar, A., Davarynejad, G., Aran, M., Abadía, J. & Khorassani, R. (2017). Effects of Foliar Nano-nitrogen and Urea Fertilizers on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Pomegranate (Punica granatum cv. Ardestani) Fruits. HortScience, 52, 288-294. DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI11248-16.
Dubois, M., Gilles, K.A., Hamilton, J.K., Rebers, P.T. & Smith, F. 1956. Colorimetric method for determination of sugars and related substances. Analytical Chemistry, 28, 350-356.
Ehsanipour, A., Zeinali, H. & Razmjoo, K. (2012). Effect of Nitrogen Levels on Qualitative Traits and Seed Yield of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) Populations. Jornal of Medicinal Plants, 2(42), 37-47. (in Persian)
El-Aal, F.S.A., Shaheen, A.M., Ahmed, A.A. & Mahmoud, A.R. (2010). Effect of foliar application of urea and amino acids mixtures as antioxidants on growth, yield and characteristics of squash. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, 6(5), 583-588.
Elhanafi, L., Houhou, M., Rais, C., Mansouri, I., Elghadraoui, L. & Greche, H. (2019). Impact of Excessive Nitrogen Fertilization on the Biochemical Quality, Phenolic Compounds, and Antioxidant Power of Sesamum indicum L. Seeds. Journal of Food Quality, 1-6. DOI: 10.1155/2019/9428092.
Emami, A. (1996). Analytical methods for the plant, Technical Publication, the Education Research and Agricultural Extension. Soil and Water Research Institute, 546p. (In Persian)
Etehadnejad, F. & Aboutalebi, A. (2014). Evaluating the effects of foliar application of nitrogen and zinc on yield increasing and quality improvement of apple cv. Golab kohanz. Indian Journal of Fundamental and Applied Life Science, 4 (2), 125-129.
Fageria, N.K. (2007). Soil fertility and plant nutrition research under field conditions: basic principles and methodology. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 30, 203–223. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160601117887.
Heidari, M. & Mohammad, M.M. (2012). Effect of rate and time of nitrogen application on fruit yield and accumulation of nutrient elements in Momordica charantiaJournal of the Saudi society of Agricultural Sciences11(2), 129-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2012.02.003.
Heimler, D., Romani, A. & Ieri, F. (2017). Plant polyphenol content, soil fertilization and agricultural management: a review. European Food Research and Technology243(7), 1107-1115. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-016-2826-6.
Heydari, M., Hashempur, M.H., Daneshfard, B. & Mosavat, S.H. (2019). Bioactive Foods as Dietary Intervention for Diabetes from the Perspective of Persian Medicine, Editor(s): Watson, R.R. and Preedy, V.R. Bioactive Food as Dietary Interventions for Diabetes (Second Edition), Academic Press, 49-68Pp.
Hirano, T., Saito, Y., Ushimaru, H. & Michiyama, H. (2005). The effect of the amount of nitrogen fertilizer on starch metabolism in leaf sheath of japonica and indica rice varieties during the heading period. Plant production science8(2), 122-130. https://doi.org/10.1626/pps.8.122.
Huang, S., Wang, L., Liu, L., Hou, Y. & Li, L. (2015). Nanotechnology in agriculture, livestock and aquaculture in China. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 33, 369−400. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-014-0274-x.
Javadzadeh, H.R., Davoudi, A., Davoudi, F., Valizadegan, G., Goodarzi, H., Mahmoodi, S., Ghane, M.R. & Faraji, M. (2013). Citrullus colocynthis as the Cause of Acute Rectorrhagia. Case Reports in Emergency Medicine, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/652192.
Joshi, N.L., Mali, P.C. & Saxena, A. (1998). Effect of nitrogen and sulphur application on yield and fatty acid composition of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) oil. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, 180, 59-63.
Hamzei, J. & Babaei, M. (2017). Response of morphological traits, yield and yield components of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) to the integrated management of irrigation intervals and nitrogen fertilizers. Journal of crop production, 9(4), 17-35. (in Persian)
Li, J., Zhu, Z. & Gerendás, J. (2008). Effects of nitrogen and sulfur on total phenolics and antioxidant activity in two genotypes of leaf mustard. Journal of Plant Nutrition31(9), 1642-1655. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160802244860.
Li, W.P., Shi, H.B., Zhu, K., Zheng, Q. & Xu, Z. (2017). The quality of sunflower seed oil changes in response to nitrogen fertilizer. Agronomy Journal109, 2499-2507. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2017.01.0046.
Malakouti, M.J. & Tabatabaei, S.J. (2005). Balanced fertilization of fruittrees in the calcareous soils of Iran. Sana press. 304P. (in Persian)
Mahmoodi, P., Yarina, M., Rashidi, V., Amirnia, R. & Tarinejhad, A. (2018). Effects of nano and chemical fertillizers on physiological efficiency and essential oil yield of Borago officinalis L. Applied ecology and environmental research, 16(4), 4773-4788. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1604_47734788.
Munene, R., Changamu, E., Korir, N. & Joseph, G.O. (2017). Effects of different nitrogen forms on growth, phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in amaranth species. Tropical Plant Research4(1), 81-89. DOI: 10.22271/tpr.2017.v4.i1.012.
Naderi, M.R. & Danesh-Shahraki, A. (2013). Nanofertilizers and their roles in sustainable agriculture. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 5, 2229-2232.
Nguyen, P.M. & Niemeyer, E.D. (2008). Effects of nitrogen fertilization on the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry56(18), 8685-8691. Doi: 10.1021/jf801485u.
Niyokuri, O.K.A.N., Rono, J.J., Fashaho, A. & Ogweno, J.O. (2013). Effect of different rates of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth and yield of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo cv. Diamant L.) hybrid F1 in Rwandan high altitude zone. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 5(1), 54-62.
Pan, J., Cui, K., Wei, D., Huang, J., Xiang, J. & Nie, L. (2011). Relationships of non‐structural carbohydrates accumulation and translocation with yield formation in rice recombinant inbred lines under two nitrogen levels. Physiologia Plantarum, 141(4), 321-331. Doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3054.2010.01441.x.
Pattl, B.R., Lakkineni, K.C. & Bhargava, S.C. (1996). Seed Yield and Yield Contributing Characters as Influenced by N Supply in Rapeseed‐mustard. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science177(3), 197-205.
Rahimi, R., Amin, G., & Ardekani, M.R.S. (2012). A review on Citrullus colocynthis Schrad: from traditional Iranian medicine to modern phytotherapy. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(6), 551–554. Doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0297.
Rains, K.C. & Bledsoe, C.S. (2007). Rapid uptake of 15N-ammonium and glycine-13C, 15N by arbuscular and ericoid mycorrhizal plants native to a Northern California coastal pygmy forest. Soil Biology and Biochemistry39(5), 1078-1086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2006.11.019.
Rathke, G.W., Christen, O. & Diepenbrock, W. (2005). Effects of nitrogen source and rate on productivity and quality of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) grown in different crop rotations. Field crops research94(2-3), 103-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2004.11.010.
Rathnayaka, R. M. N. N., Iqbal, Y. B. & Rifnas, L. M. (2018). Influence of Urea and Nano-Nitrogen Fertilizers on the Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivar ‘Bg 250’. International Journal of Research Publications, 5(2), 1-7. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.14315.59684.
Rostami, M. & Ahmadi, A.R. (2014). Investigation the effect of nitrogen forms and split fertilization on grain yield and nitrogen content of two corn hybrids. Applied field crop research, 27(104), 40-46. (In Persian)
Roy, D.K. & Singh, B.P. (2006). Effect of level and time of nitrogen application with and without vermicompost on yield, yield attributes and quality of malt barley (Hordeum vulgare). Indian Journal of Agronomy51, 40-42.
Sadeghi, A., Hajmohammadnia, K. & Seiedi, S.M. (2017). The Effects of Vermicompost and Urea Fertilizers on Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium Uptake in Marshmallow (Altheae officinalis L.) Organs. Plant ecophysiology, 9(28), 123-132. (In Persian)
Sandoval‐Villa, M., Guertal, E.A. & Wood, C.W. (2000). Tomato leaf chlorophyll meter readings as affected by variety, nitrogen form, and nighttime nutrient solution strength. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 23(5), 649-661. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160009382047.
Sawana, Z.M., Hafez, S.A. & Alkassas, A.R. (2007). Nitrogen, potassium and plant growth retardant effects on oil content and quality of cottonseed. Grasas Y Aceites58(3), 243-251. DOI: 10.3989/gya.2007.v58.i3.179.
Slinkard, K. & Singleton, V.L. (1977). Total phenol analysis: automation and comparison with manual methods. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture, 28, 49-55.
Solis, A., Vidal, I., Paulino, L., Johnson, B.L. & Berti, M.T. (2013). Camelina seed yield response to nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus fertilizer in South Central Chile. Industrial Crops and Products44, 132-138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.11.005.
Steer, B.T., Hocking, P.J., Kortt, A.A. & Roxburgh, C.M. (1984). Nitrogen nutrition of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.): yield components, the timing of their establishment and seed characteristics in response to nitrogen supply. Field Crops Research9, 219-236.
Stefanelli, D., Goodwin, I. & Jones, R. (2010). Minimal nitrogen and water use in horticulture: Effects on quality and content of selected nutrients. Food Research International43(7), 1833-1843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2010.04.022.
Stitt, M. (1999). Nitrate regulation of metabolism and growth. Current Opinion in Plant Biology2(3), 178-186.
Suppan, S. (2013). Nanomaterials in soil, our future food chain? Institute of Agriculture and Trade Policy.
Sure, Sh., Aruiy, H. & Alirezaie, M. (2013). Effect of different nitrogen level on some vegetative and generative charecteristics of medicinal pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.). Journal of plant environmental physiology, 7(28), 1-7. (In Persian)
Tohiruddin, L., Tandiono, J., Silalahi, A.J., Prabowo, N.E. & Foster, H.L. (2010). Effects of N, P and K fertilizers on leaf trace element levels of oil palm in Sumatra. Journal of oil palm research22, 869-877.
Yan, B., Wu, B., Gao, Y., Wu, J., Niu, J., Xie, Y., Cui, Z. & Zhang, Z. (2018). Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the regulation of nonstructural carbohydrate accumulation, translocation and the yield formation of oilseed flax. Field crops research219, 229-241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2018.01.032.
Zheljazkov, V.D., Vick, B.A., Ebelhar, M.W., Buehring, N., Baldwin, B.S., Astatkie, T. & Miller, J.F. (2008). Yield, oil content, and composition of sunflower grown at multiple locations in Mississippi. Agronomy Journal100(3), 635-642. DOI: 10.2134/agronj2007.0253.
Zohraabi, E., Saidi, M. & Tahmasebi, Z. (2018). Effects of Different Sources and quantities of Nitrogen Fertilizers on Physiological Parameters of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum- graecum L.). Journal of plant process and function, 7 (23), 361-370. (In Persian)