The Effect of Organic Fertilization on Leaf Mineral Content of Three Citrus Species

Abstract

A field experiment in RCBD design was carried out in the College of Agric. Engine. SCI./The University of Baghdad. The research aimed to evaluate the effect of inorganic and organic fertilizer (as three levels of sheep and cattle manure) on the leaf content of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, of three citrus species, lemon (Citrus limon L.), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.) and, mandarin (Citrus reticulata), grafted on Sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) rootstock. Results indicated that lemon trees grafted on Citrus aurantium were the most responsive to organic fertilization and the accumulation of most of the macro and micro elements, followed by orange trees grafted on the same rootstock, while it was noted that mandarin trees grafted on Citrus aurantium were the least responsive among the three types, In addition, sheep manure was efficient in providing plants with N, K, Ca, and Mg elements, while cattle manure was the most efficient in providing plants with P, Fe, Zn, and Mn nutrients.