This study was carried out at the Experimental Orchard, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt, to investigate the response of Manfalouty pomegranate trees for Azotin (bio-fertilizer) and Enciaben (slow release-N fertilizers) during 2013 and 2014 seasons. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized block design with six treatments and three replications, each one tree. The results of this study showed that all studied fertilization treatments significantly increased the leaf area as well as percentage of N, P and K in leaves compared to use the recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) as fast mineral nitrogen source only. No significant differences on these traits due to use slow release-N fertilizer at any dose as well as 60% of RDN as two or three forms. All studied fertilization treatments studied significant increasing the yield/tree and decrease the fruit splitting percentage compared to use (RDN) as fast mineral-N source only. The maximum yield/tree and least fruit splitting percentage were recorded on the trees that fertilized by three different fertilization source (three forms). Fertilization with the slow release dose, two forms (mineral plus bio) or three forms (mineral plus bio and slow release) significantly improved the fruit quality in terms of increasing the fruit weight, pulp % and total soluble solids % as well as sugar, vitamin C and anthocyanin contents and decreasing the total acidity and tannin content compared to use the RDN as release mineral-N source. Hence, the cost wise evaluation of the application of these N sources is in favour of 60% RDN at either two, three forms or slow release-N. It is evident from the obtained results that such fertilization programs are very important for the production of pomegranate fruits since it improves the fruit quality and packable yield and reduces the production costs and environ-mental pollution

This study was carried out at the Experimental Orchard, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt, to investigate the response of Manfalouty pomegranate trees for Azotin (bio-fertilizer) and Enciaben (slow release-N fertilizers) during 2013 and 2014 seasons. The experiment was arranged in a complete randomized block design with six treatments and three replications, each one tree. The results of this study showed that all studied fertilization treatments significantly increased the leaf area as well as percentage of N, P and K in leaves compared to use the recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) as fast mineral nitrogen source only. No significant differences on these traits due to use slow release-N fertilizer at any dose as well as 60% of RDN as two or three forms. All studied fertilization treatments studied significant increasing the yield/tree and decrease the fruit splitting percentage compared to use (RDN) as fast mineral-N source only. The maximum yield/tree and least fruit splitting percentage were recorded on the trees that fertilized by three different fertilization source (three forms). Fertilization with the slow release dose, two forms (mineral plus bio) or three forms (mineral plus bio and slow release) significantly improved the fruit quality in terms of increasing the fruit weight, pulp % and total soluble solids % as well as sugar, vitamin C and anthocyanin contents and decreasing the total acidity and tannin content compared to use the RDN as release mineral-N source. Hence, the cost wise evaluation of the application of these N sources is in favour of 60% RDN at either two, three forms or slow release-N. It is evident from the obtained results that such fertilization programs are very important for the production of pomegranate fruits since it improves the fruit quality and packable yield and reduces the production costs and environ-mental pollution

A field study was performed on Seewy date palms grown in a private orchard located at El-Dakhla Oasis, New Valley, Egypt, during 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different bagging treatments on yield and fruit quality. The bunches were subjected to seven bagging treatments, white, blue, black and green perforated polyethylene bags as well as sackcloth, gauze bags and unbagged (control). Bagging bunches was performed at pre-fruit coloring stage and remained covered until harvest date. The results show that bagging bunches significantly increased the bunch weight, accelerated ripening and improved fruit quality compared with the unbagged ones. Blue and black polyethylene bags increased fruit weight and flesh percentage compared to other treatments. Blue color surpassed the other bagging treatments in these traits. The bagging with blue or black perforated polyethylene bags recorded the highest scores dealt with fruiting quality. Contrarily, the least score for dates quality was recorded by bagging with sackcloth and gauze bags. From this study it could be recommended the use of blue or black perforated polyethylene bags for Seewy date plant bunches at pre-fruit coloring stage under such conditions.

A field study was performed on Seewy date palms grown in a private orchard located at El-Dakhla Oasis, New Valley, Egypt, during 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different bagging treatments on yield and fruit quality. The bunches were subjected to seven bagging treatments, white, blue, black and green perforated polyethylene bags as well as sackcloth, gauze bags and unbagged (control). Bagging bunches was performed at pre-fruit coloring stage and remained covered until harvest date. The results show that bagging bunches significantly increased the bunch weight, accelerated ripening and improved fruit quality compared with the unbagged ones. Blue and black polyethylene bags increased fruit weight and flesh percentage compared to other treatments. Blue color surpassed the other bagging treatments in these traits. The bagging with blue or black perforated polyethylene bags recorded the highest scores dealt with fruiting quality. Contrarily, the least score for dates quality was recorded by bagging with sackcloth and gauze bags. From this study it could be recommended the use of blue or black perforated polyethylene bags for Seewy date plant bunches at pre-fruit coloring stage under such conditions.

The effect of bunches and strands thinning on yield and fruit quality of Zaghloul and Haiany date palms was investigated during three successive seasons, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Fruit thinning was carried out by adjusting the number of bunches/palm to 5, 7 or 9 bunches. The nine bunches/palm, however, were especially thinned to 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 strands/bunch. The results of the present study indicated a significant negative correlation between bunch weight and bunch-number/palm and a positive one between the bunch weight and strand numbers/bunch. Reducing the strand-numbers/bunch to either 20 or 25 strands significantly decreased the bunch weight and yield/palm compared with the unthinned ones. A remarkable improvement on fruit quality was noticed, after the fruit thinning in comparison to the unthinning. Thinning either bunches or strands lead to a significant increase in the fruit weight, size and flesh percentage as compared to unthinning at all. Fruit thinning also positively improved the date palm fruit chemical properties. It is worth notable that, leaving 30 to 35 strands/bunch would result in a considerable yield characterized by high fruit quality of Zaghloul and Haiany date palms.

The effect of bunches and strands thinning on yield and fruit quality of Zaghloul and Haiany date palms was investigated during three successive seasons, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Fruit thinning was carried out by adjusting the number of bunches/palm to 5, 7 or 9 bunches. The nine bunches/palm, however, were especially thinned to 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 strands/bunch. The results of the present study indicated a significant negative correlation between bunch weight and bunch-number/palm and a positive one between the bunch weight and strand numbers/bunch. Reducing the strand-numbers/bunch to either 20 or 25 strands significantly decreased the bunch weight and yield/palm compared with the unthinned ones. A remarkable improvement on fruit quality was noticed, after the fruit thinning in comparison to the unthinning. Thinning either bunches or strands lead to a significant increase in the fruit weight, size and flesh percentage as compared to unthinning at all. Fruit thinning also positively improved the date palm fruit chemical properties. It is worth notable that, leaving 30 to 35 strands/bunch would result in a considerable yield characterized by high fruit quality of Zaghloul and Haiany date palms.

Tree vegetative growth, leaf mineral contents, yield compo-nents and fruit quality of three grapefruit cultivars namely, March, Red Blush and Ruby Red were studied under upper Egypt conditions during three successive seasons, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The results of this investigation could be summarized as follow: There was a great variability in vegetative growth traits, yield components and fruit quality of these cultivars. March grapefruit trees cultivar surpassed in vegetative growth and vigour compared to either Red Blush or Ruby Red trees cultivars. Also, March grapefruit cultivar was superior among the other cultivars in inducing the highest fruit set, largest fruit number and con-sequently the heaviest yield/tree. On the other hand, Red Blush grapefruit trees were superior in fruit quality and followed by the Marsh tree cultivar in its vegetative growth and productivity. On the account of the present findings, it can be concluded that March or Red Blush trees cultivars under this conditions gained the highest yield with good fruit quality

Tree vegetative growth, leaf mineral contents, yield compo-nents and fruit quality of three grapefruit cultivars namely, March, Red Blush and Ruby Red were studied under upper Egypt conditions during three successive seasons, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The results of this investigation could be summarized as follow: There was a great variability in vegetative growth traits, yield components and fruit quality of these cultivars. March grapefruit trees cultivar surpassed in vegetative growth and vigour compared to either Red Blush or Ruby Red trees cultivars. Also, March grapefruit cultivar was superior among the other cultivars in inducing the highest fruit set, largest fruit number and con-sequently the heaviest yield/tree. On the other hand, Red Blush grapefruit trees were superior in fruit quality and followed by the Marsh tree cultivar in its vegetative growth and productivity. On the account of the present findings, it can be concluded that March or Red Blush trees cultivars under this conditions gained the highest yield with good fruit quality

The vegetative growth and vigor as well as yield components and fruit quality of three fig cultivars, two introduced, namely Conadria and Kadota and the local one, Sultani were evaluated under upper Egypt conditions during three successive seasons, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The results of this study could be summarized as follow: There was a great variability in vegetative, vigor growth, yield components and fruit quality of these cultivars. Kadota fig trees cultivar surpassed in vegetative growth and vigor compared to either Conadria or Sultani trees cultivars. Kadota fig trees recorded the highest values of bud burst percentage, leaves number per shoot and annual pruning wood weight, whereas, Conadria fig trees gave the highest leaf area compared with other two cultivars. On other hand, Conadria fig trees cultivar was superior among the rest cultivars in producing the highest fruits number, and heaviest fruit and consequently the heaviest yield/tree. Moreover, Kadota fig cultivar was superior in chemical fruit properties, whereas Sultani fig cultivar had the least fruit quality compared to other two studied cultivars. Concerning the overall numerical evaluation data revealed that, Conadria and Kadota cultivars gained the highest degrees evaluation. It could be arranged these degrees in a descending order as follows 86.7, 81.3 and 52.3 units for Conadria, Kadota and Sultani fig trees cultivars, respectively, under Upper Egypt conditions. On the account of the present findings, it can be recommended to plant Conadria and Kadota fig cultivars under this condition to obtain the high yield with good fruit quality.

The vegetative growth and vigor as well as yield components and fruit quality of three fig cultivars, two introduced, namely Conadria and Kadota and the local one, Sultani were evaluated under upper Egypt conditions during three successive seasons, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The results of this study could be summarized as follow: There was a great variability in vegetative, vigor growth, yield components and fruit quality of these cultivars. Kadota fig trees cultivar surpassed in vegetative growth and vigor compared to either Conadria or Sultani trees cultivars. Kadota fig trees recorded the highest values of bud burst percentage, leaves number per shoot and annual pruning wood weight, whereas, Conadria fig trees gave the highest leaf area compared with other two cultivars. On other hand, Conadria fig trees cultivar was superior among the rest cultivars in producing the highest fruits number, and heaviest fruit and consequently the heaviest yield/tree. Moreover, Kadota fig cultivar was superior in chemical fruit properties, whereas Sultani fig cultivar had the least fruit quality compared to other two studied cultivars. Concerning the overall numerical evaluation data revealed that, Conadria and Kadota cultivars gained the highest degrees evaluation. It could be arranged these degrees in a descending order as follows 86.7, 81.3 and 52.3 units for Conadria, Kadota and Sultani fig trees cultivars, respectively, under Upper Egypt conditions. On the account of the present findings, it can be recommended to plant Conadria and Kadota fig cultivars under this condition to obtain the high yield with good fruit quality.