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Effectiveness of Calcium Fertilizers on Calcium Content in Mango (Filanglfera Indica, L.) Grown on Calcareous Soil
Thesis Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of calcium fertilizers and irrigation on calcium content in mango (Mangifera indica L.) and the incidence of insidious fruit rot (IFR) grown on alkaline soil, which was also characterized according to the Malaysian Department of Agriculture Fertility Cl~sification Systems before the treatments were conducted. Two rates of irrigation [without irrigation (T) and with irrigation (A)] and three sources of calcium (Ca) fertilizers [no Ca fertilizer (CO), Ca(N0)2 fertilizer (CN), and Biomin Ca fertilizer (CF)] factorial experiment were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications.
Characterization of alkaline soils [Bukit Bintang moderately deep (BBD) and Bukit Bintang shallow (BBC)] showed that the soils were loamy with clay content between 18-35 percent and 30 percent silt. The infiltration rate was low (0.14-1.30 em hr·1). The soil pH was between 7.23-8.40 and the carbonate content was more than 50 g kg·1. The effective depth were as follows: BBS: 50-100 em, BBD > I 00 em, and BBC < 50 cm.
Soil suitability classes for BBS was 3t (cd); BBD, 3t (d); and BBC, 5cR (tdO). Soil fertility capability classes for BBS and BBD were Ldb and BBC was L'L"db. The BBS and BBD soils were suitable for most of the crops while BBC was limited to shallow rooted crops.
Sources of Ca fertilizers and irrigation did not influence the nitrogen and potassium contents of the mango leaf tissue. However, the Ca content increased with CN (22.89-31.51 g kg·1) and CF (23.06-30.20 g kg-1) applications. Although CN increased theCa content of mango leaf tissues, the N/Ca ratio also increased. On the other hand, CF treatment lowered the N/Ca ratio (<0.5). Calcium nitrate was more effective in increasing the Ca content of leaf tissues while Biomin Ca was more effective in decreasing the N/Ca ratio, also in the leaf tissues.
Various sources of Ca fertilizer and irrigation, CF fertilizer application with or without irrigation, reduced the IFR incidence (18.75- 27.08%) in mango and increased the marketable fruits by more than 90 percent of the total fruit yield. I FR incidence increased with the decrease in Ca content and increase in nitrogen (N)/Ca and potassium (K)/Ca ratios in mango leaves. The critical level of Ca content in the leaf was 30.84 g kg·1 and 0.47 for N/Ca and 0.24 K.Ca ratio. IFR incidence was also correlated with N, K, Ca concentrations, and N/Ca and K/Ca ratios in mango fruit tissue. The critical levels of nutrients in mango fruits were 6.10 g kg·1 N, 5.20 g kg·1, 0.72 g kg1 Ca, 9.90N/Ca, and 8.20 K/Ca.