Yield and Fruit Properties of Khalas Date Palms as Affected by Spraying Some Antioxidants

Abstract

This study was conducted over two successive seasons on Khalas date palms. The chosen palms were sprayed with citric, ascorbic, and salicylic acids at 500, 500, and 100 ppm, respectively, as antioxidant treatments, either individually or in combinations, to investigate their effects on productivity and fruit physical and chemical properties. The findings demonstrate that, when compared to the untreated palms (control), foliar application of the antioxidants under investigation, either alone or in combination, improved the fruit set, fruit retention, bunch weight, yield per palm, fruit weight, fruit dimensions, flesh weight, total soluble solids, total sugars, reducing sugars, non-reducing sugars, and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Fe values in the fruits. In decreasing order, citric, ascorbic, and salicylic acids were used to promote these characteristics. Applying these antioxidants together was more practical in this regard than applying them separately. Spraying a combination of citric, ascorbic, and salicylic acids four times (on the first of March, April, May, and June) had the greatest effects on Khalas date palms' production and fruit quality.