Effect of potassium nutrition on fruit splitting in Valencia oranget

SummaryThe effect of K supply on fruit splitting and other quality features was studied in outdoor soil culture of Valencia orange trees on sour orange rootstock. K application reduced splitting, and increased fruit size, peel thickness and fruit acidity. Addition of P to the NK treatment moderated the K effect on acidity.In the K treatments, the leaf K was raised, on an average, from 0.69 to 1.36% and K in the peel from 0.42 to 1.0%. The putrescine content in the fruit peel of trees not receiving K, and split fruits, was significantly higher than in the K-treated trees.