March 4, 2016

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
Parameter	Unit	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
NaOH		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).

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