IMPACT OF NANO FERTILIZERS AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS ON VALENCIA ORANGE (CITRUS SINENSIS [L.] OSBECK) GROWTH, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY.

This study was carried out in a private orchard located in Biala, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, Egypt to investigate the effect of Nano-fertilizers versus chemical fertilizers on the growth and productivity of Valencia orange. Two rates of Nano-fertilizers (11.45 and 19.8 g/tree) were applied to the soil, foliar, or mixed, resulting in six treatments, with chemical fertilizers (0.55, 0.12, 0.46 Kg of N, P₂O₅, and K₂O/tree/year, respectively) serving as the control. When compared to the control, Nano-fertilizer treatments increased tree canopy volume, leaf area, chlorophyll and nutrient contents, yield, and fruit quality. T7 (19.8 g/tree-half soil and half foliar application) produced consistent results in both seasons of the study, recording the highest canopy volume, leaf area, chlorophyll and nutrient content, yield, and fruit quality, which included vitamin C and TSS. Nano-foliar application was found to be more effective than soil application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]