Co-Addition of Potassium Humate and Vinasse Enhances Growth and Yield In "Wonderful" Pomegranate Under Sandy Soil

Although "Wonderful" pomegranate has recently been cultivated in large areas of sandy soil in Egypt, it produces a low yield and quality. Soil applications of potassium humate and vinasse could effectively be used in sandy soil to enhance soil nutrient status as well as to enhance crops growth and productivity. "Wonderful" pomegranate trees at the Experimental Research Station of National Research Centre, Nubaria, El Behera governorate, Egypt, were treated with soil application of potassium humate (10 g, 20 g, and 40 g per tree), vinasse (500 mL and 1000 mL) and their combinations or water (control). The following parameters were measured: vegetative growth, leaf (N, P, and K) nutrient content, perfect flower percentage, and fruit set percentage, yield, fruit weight, aril/fruit percentage, TSS, and acidity. All vinasse and potassium humate combinations resulted in significantly increased shoot length, leaf number, and leaf area. Soil applications of 20 g and 40 g potassium humate with 500 mL or 1000 mL vinasse applications recorded the highest values of leaf N, P and K concentrations. All combinations treatments resulted in significantly higher perfect flower%, fruit set%, yield, fruit weight, aril/ fruit%. All soil applications resulted in significantly lower acidity. The potassium humate and vinasse combinations did not have significant differences on TSS. The results suggest that soil applications of 20 g and 40 g potassium humate with 500 mL or 1000 mL vinasse could be used to improve growth and yield of "Wonderful" pomegranate under sandy soil.