Effect of APPLYING different organic and inorganic nitrogen SOURCES to Zaghloul and Samany date palm cultivars ON: I. Leaf and fruit mineral content.
Attalla, A.M.*; A.H. Shahein,*; H.A. Kassem** and Hoda S.H.Aly***
* Professors of Pomology, Fac. of Agric., Alex. Univ., Egypt.
** Associate Prof. of Pomology, Fac. of Agric., Alex. Univ.,
Egypt.
*** Researcher, Hort. Res. Institute, Agric.Res.Center, MALR,
Egypt.
ABSTRACT
Field trials were conducted during 1997/1998 and 1998/1999 seasons to study the effect of applying a constant amount of nitrogen (1350 gm/palm/year) from different forms of organic or/and inorganic nitrogen fertilizers on leaf and fruit mineral content of Zaghloul and Samany date palm cultivars grown in Alexandria, Egypt. The results showed that, in general, Zaghloul pinnae contained higher concentrations of P, Fe and Zn and lower concentrations of N and Ca as compared with those of Samany cultivar. Also, fruits of Zaghloul cultivar contained higher content of N, Mg, Zn and Mn and lower content of P, K, Ca, Fe and Cu than those of Samany cultivar. Fertilizing with urea or ammonium nitrate increased pinnae and fruit content of nitrogen while some organic manure alone or combined with artificial fertilizers decreased it in pinnae and fruits. Additionally, chicken manure alone increased P concentration in pinnae and K concentration in fruits and decreased fruit content of Fe. The correlation coefficients within pinnae mineral content were positive between Zn in one side and K (in both cultivars), Ca and P in Zaghloul cultivar in the other side.
INTRODUCTION
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) is an important fruit crop in the old land as well as new reclaimed regions. The number of fruitful female palms in Egypt was 10.2 million produced 1.11 million tons dates according to [6].
The nutritional value of dates for human being is high. Dates are rich in many minerals such as potassium and calcium and contain a moderate amounts of copper, magnesium, phosphorus and sulpher [22] as well as some vitamins [30 and 27]. Also, many parts of date palm tree are useful for feeding livestock and animal or mixed with other forage fodder crops [12 and 23].
The recent investigations demonstrated that the different sources of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertilizers caused a significant increase for tree growth and yield of date palms [19 and 20].
Application of organic manure minimizes the loss of nutrients by leaching [10] and considered as an important source of essential nutrients for plant growth [29]. Also, the addition of organic manure to soil not only increased the organic matter but also raised the available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium, calcium and magnesium content [11].
The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of organic and inorganic or combined nitrogen sources on the average mineral content of pinnae and fruits of Zaghloul and Samany palms at the end of Khalal stage (harvest date).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present field trials were carried out during 1997/1998 and 1998/1999 growing seasons on Zaghloul and Samany palms (7 years-old) grown in Montazah garden at Alexandria, Egypt. Eleven fertilization treatments were carried out for each cultivar (Four replicates in each treatment, and one palm for each replicate). Each palm was supplied with 1350 gm nitrogen in each season from different sources (organic, inorganic and combined treatments as shown in Table (1).
Chemical analysis of different sources of organic manure in both seasons of study are presented in Table (2).
The quantity of potassium as K2O in organic fertilizers was determined and the same quantity was added as potassium sulphate (48% K2O) to each tree of the other treatments (Table 1), whereas calcium super phosphate (15.50 % P2O5 ) was added at a rate of 1.5 Kg to each tree once at the first week of March in both seasons of study.
At the last week of November, organic manure was applied in holes with 70 Cm diameter and 70 Cm depth at a distance of 70 Cm from the palm trunk on one side in the first season and on the opposite side in the second season. In all single or combined treatments, chemical nitrogen fertilizers were added in three equal doses in March, May and July in both seasons of study as done by [15]. The same pollen source was used to pollinate the palms of the studied cultivars yearly.
Soil samples were taken at 0-30 Cm, 30-60 Cm, 60-90 Cm from soil surface of Zaghloul and Samany orchards for chemical analysis at the end of experiments and the data are shown in Table (3).
Table (1): Applied amounts of organic and inorganic fertilizers (Kg) adding to each palm tree in 1998 and 1999.
Treatment / 1997/1998 / 1998/1999Organic source / Mineral Nitrogen source / K2O / Organic source / Mineral nitrogen source / K2O
From organic / From chemical / From organic / From chemical
1.Ammonium nitrate (Am)
2. Urea (U)
3. Chickenmanure(Ch)
4. Cattle manure (Ca)
5. Town refuse (T)
6. ½ Ch + ½ Am
7. ½ Ch + ½ U
8. ½ Ca + ½ Am
9. ½ Ca + ½ U
10.½ T + ½ Am
11.½ T + ½ U / --
--
65.5
60.0
94.50
32.50
32.50
30.00
30.00
47.25
47.25 / 4.03
2.93
--
--
--
2.015
1.465
2.015
1.465
2.015
1.465 / --
--
0.69
1.58
0.44
0.35
0.35
0.79
0.79
0.22
0.22 / 1.58
1.58
0.89
--
1.14
1.23
1.23
0.79
0.79
1.36
1.36 / --
--
65.00
84.50
91.25
32.50
32.50
42.25
42.25
45.60
45..60 / 4.03
2.93
--
--
--
2.015
1.465
2.015
1.465
2.015
1.465 / --
--
1.27
1.60
1.13
0.64
0.64
0.80
0.80
0.57
0.57 / 1.60
1.60
0.33
--
0.48
0.96
0.96
0.80
0.80
1.03
1.03
* Ca supplied the greater amount of K compared to the other sources. Therefore, an equivalent, to supply the same amount as cattle manner.
Table (2): Analysis of organic manure sources (on dry weight basis) in 1998/1999.
Sources / 1997/1998Moisture % / N P K Ca Mg Na
% / Fe Zn Mn Cu
ppm
1.Chicken manure
2.Cattle manure
3.Town refuse / 9.37
16.72
8.11 / 2.32 0.87 0.47 1.55 0.55 0.31
2.52 0.80 1.17 1.95 0.90 0.34
1.55 0.46 0.19 0.87 0.63 0.49 / 41 92 42 31
58 70 72 14
45 38 104 38
1998/1999
1.Chicken manure
2.Cattle manure
3.Town refuse / 7.85
22.98
11.31 / 2.24 0.94 0.84 1.12 0.55 0.32
1.98 0.76 1.09 1.76 0.86 0.31
1.67 0.45 0.54 0.94 0.52 0.42 / 56 89 40 29
53 74 78 23
50 42 98 32
Table (3): Soil analysis of Zaghloul and Samany ochards in 1999.
Depth / ZaghloulpH / EC
ds/m / Na+
meq/L / Ca++
meq/L / Mg++
meq/L / Cl-
meq/L / K
meq/L
0–30 Cm
30-60Cm
60-90Cm / 7.88
7.90
7.79 / 0.73
0.41
0.42 / 2.81
1.13
1.83 / 3.0
1.6
1.6 / 1.0
0.6
1.0 / 4.0
1.5
2.25 / 0.224
0.159
0.143
Samany
0–30 Cm
30-60Cm
60-90Cm / 7.88
7.70
8.03 / 0.85
0.69
0.37 / 4.22
3.83
1.83 / 1.8
2.0
1.2 / 1.4
1.4
0.8 / 3.0
3.0
1.5 / 0.159
0.258
0.293
To determine leaf and fruit mineral content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu), twenty pinnae (as a sample) from each replicate were collected at mid-November of both seasons as described by [24 and 25], while fruit samples were collected at the end of Khalal stage (harvest date).
Total nitrogen was determined colorimetrically according to [14], whereas potassium was determined by Flamephotometer. Phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron manganese, zinc, copper were determined by Perklin Elemer Atomic Absorption Sepectrophotometer No 305B. The concentrations of N,P,K, Ca and Mg were expressed as percent, while Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu were expressed as parts per million (on dry weight basis). The correlation coefficients within leaf mineral contents were calculated in both seasons of study.
These experiments were designed as Randomized Completer Block (RCBD) and the data obtained were statistically analyzed according to [26].
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The data in Table (4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) showed the effect of different fertilization treatments on pinnae and fruit mineral content (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) as an average for Zaghloul and Samany cultivars in 1998 and 1999 seasons. The differences between the two experimental date palm cultivars for pinnae and fruit mineral content, regardless the effect of different sources of nitrogen treatments, and the correlation coefficients within leaf mineral content were also discussed.
Pinnae mineral content:
Comparing pinnae mineral content of both experimental palm cultivars, irrespective the effect of different fertilization treatments, Zaghloul pinnae contained higher concentrations of P, Fe and Zn, and lower concentrations of N and Ca as compared with those of Samany cultivar. Pinnae K, Mg and Mn content of both cultivars did not show a constant trend in both seasons of study (Table 4). Many investigators studied the differences in pinnae content of nutrient elements such as; [5, 7, 17 and 8] on date palm cultivars.
As for the effect of different organic and inorganic fertilization treatments on pinnae mineral content, regardless the differences of cultivars, the data in Tables (5 and 6) indicated that the fertilized palm trees with artificial fertilizers (urea and ammonium nitrate in 1998 and 1999 seasons, respectively) had a significant higher pinnae nitrogen content than those of most fertilized trees with organic manure alone or combined with artificial fertilizers. These results are in agreement with those of [9], who studied Khudari date palm cultivar grown in Saudi Arabia.
Concerning the effect of different fertilization treatments on pinnae phosphorus content, it was significantly higher in chicken manure treatment in both seasons and cattle manure alone in 1999 as compared with most other remaining treatments (Table 5). These results agreed with those reported by [13] on Zaghloul date palm cultivar grown in Egypt.
Regarding the effect of fertilization treatments on pinnae potassium content, the fertilized palm trees with chicken manure alone or urea in 1998 and 1999, respectively had a significant higher pinnae content (0.87 and 0.85%, respectively) than those of some other remaining treatments (Table 5). The difference in pinnae content of potassium from year to another may be due to the quantity of available potassium in each organic fertilizer and the stimulation of potassium absorption which occurred differently for each nitrogen source. These results disagreed with those of [16] on date palm, who found that organic manure treatment with olive pomace gave the highest pinnae potassium content.
Table (4): Pinnae and fruit mineral content* (on dry weight basis of date
palm cultivars as affected by fertilization treatments in 1998
and 1999 seasons.
CultivarCharacter / 1998 / 1999 / 1998 / 1999
Z / S / Z / S / Z / S / Z / S
Pinnae / Fruits
N % / 1.48 / 1.72 / 1.31 / 1.51 / 0.82 / 0.78 / 0.77 / 0.67
L.S.D.0.05 / 0.18 / 0.15 / 0.06 / 0.05
P% / 0.151 / 0.119 / 0.159 / 0.120 / 0.094 / 0.108 / 0.087 / 0.101
L.S.D.0.05 / 0.004 / 0.004 / 0.010 / 0.004
K% / 0.844 / 0.842 / 0.838 / 0.815 / 0.68 / 0.72 / 0.68 / 0.73
L.S.D.0.05 / 0.010 / 0.010 / 0.010 / 0.010
Ca % / 1.08 / 1.20 / 1.00 / 1.10 / 0.48 / 0.68 / 0.50 / 0.59
L.S.D.0.05 / 0.06 / 0.09 / 0.03 / 0.05
Mg % / 0.542 / 0.542 / 0.536 / 0.543 / 0.37 / 0.32 / 0.35 / 0.33
L.S.D.0.05 / 0.004 / 0.004 / 0.01 / 0.02
Fe (ppm) / 104 / 90 / 111 / 92 / 53.53 / 56.80 / 54.60 / 69.19
L.S.D.0.05 / 2.06 / 2.08 / 2.25 / 0.72
Zn (ppm) / 71.27 / 63.20 / 82.04 / 69.41 / 57 / 53 / 58 / 57
L.S.D.0.05 / 3.45 / 5.01 / 3.81 / 3.14
Mn (ppm) / 59 / 64 / 63 / 64 / 55 / 41 / 56 / 42
L.S.D.0.05 / 1.18 / 3.63 / 1.18 / 3.40
Cu (ppm) / -- / -- / -- / -- / 8.10 / 10.17 / 6.91 / 9.84
L.S.D.0.05 / -- / -- / 0.17 / 0.15
- As an average for all fertilization treatments.
- Z: Zaghloul S: Samany
In addition, ammonium nitrate and town refuse in 1998 and 1999 seasons, respectively, gave the highest pinnae content of calcium, while town refuse alone or combined with urea in 1999 and 1998, respectively, significantly increased pinnae content of magnesium as compared with some other fertilization treatments (Table 5). These results are partially agreed with those of [28] on different date palm cultivars, who found that the highest levels of pinnae content of magnesium were recorded in the combined treatments of organic and inorganic fertilizers.
As for iron, there were a significant increase in pinnae iron as a result of applying chicken manure plus ammonium nitrate in 1998 season, and ammonium nitrate alone in 1999 while chicken manure alone and cattle manure or town refuse plus ammonium nitrate treatments recorded the lowest values in both seasons (Table 6). The obtained results are in agreement with those of [16] on Hayany date palm cultivar. Pinnae content of zinc was significantly higher in chicken manure or cattle manure combined with ammonium nitrate treatments in 1998 and 1999, respectively, than that in town refuse alone or combined with ammonium nitrate treatments. The palm trees fertilized with ammonium nitrate or town refuse in 1998, and chicken manure plus urea treatment in 1999 had a significant higher pinnae manganese content as compared with cattle manure alone in both seasons (Tanble 6). These findings are partially in harmony with those found by [28 and 2]. They found that the highest values of pinnae zinc and manganese content always come from adding organic plus inorganic nitrogen sources.
Table (5): Pinnae content* of macronutrients (% on dry weight basis) of date palm cultivars as affected
by organic, inorganic and combined fertilization treatments in 1998 and 1999 seasons.
Treatment / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99N / P / K / Ca / Mg
1. Ammonium nitrate (Am)
2. Urea (U)
3. Chicken manure (Ch)
4. Cattle manure (Ca)
5. Town refuse (T)
6. ½ Ch + ½ Am
7. ½ Ch + ½ U
8. ½ Ca + ½ Am
9. ½ Ca + ½ U
10.½ T + ½ Am
11.½ T + ½ U / 1.69
2.10
1.49
1.31
1.52
1.59
1.66
1.40
1.67
1.52
1.66 / 1.85
1.54
1.31
1.40
1.51
1.51
1.75
1.63
1.35
1.56
1.51 / 0.135
0.128
0.143
0.133
0.140
0.136
0.128
0.135
0.134
0.129
0.139 / 0.138
0.141
0.143
0.142
0.133
0.140
0.140
0.138
0.136
0.137
0.141 / 0.849
0.854
0.866
0.829
0.846
0.850
0.814
0.855
0.850
0.828
0.836 / 0.818
0.854
0.836
0.824
0.806
0.831
0.827
0.832
0.806
0.839
0.817 / 1.27
1.06
1.09
1.05
1.19
1.17
1.06
1.16
1.19
1.09
1.16 / 1.24
1.15
0.83
0.95
1.30
1.08
0.90
0.94
1.06
0.97
1.13 / 0.542
0.540
0.536
0.549
0.547
0.544
0.540
0.539
0.539
0.538
0.550 / 0.541
0.542
0.540
0.543
0.546
0.540
0.540
0.534
0.537
0.534
0.539
L.S.D.0.05 / 0.44 / 0.37 / 0.012 / 0.009 / 0.030 / 0.030 / 0.15 / 0.22 / 0.011 / 0.011
- As an average for both cultivars..
Table (6): Pinnae content* of micronutrients (ppm) on dry weight basis) of date palm cultivars as affected by organic, inorganic and combined fertilization treatments in 1998 and 1999 seasons.
Treatment / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99Fe / Zn / Mn
1. Ammonium nitrate (Am)
2. Urea (U)
3. Chicken manure (Ch)
4. Cattle manure (Ca)
5. Town refuse (T)
6. ½ Ch + ½ Am
7. ½ Ch + ½ U
8. ½ Ca + ½ Am
9. ½ Ca + ½ U
10.½ T + ½ Am
11.½ T + ½ U / 99
98
95
101
98
102
95
94
95
96
93 / 106
102
99
98
104
103
103
98
101
97
102 / 66.77
68.11
70.73
66.67
62.81
73.33
59.90
72.50
68.02
64.37
66.56 / 75.00
74.48
77.60
80.21
64.17
81.35
81.56
84.06
75.21
69.37
70.00 / 64
63
61
61
64
61
60
61
61
61
60 / 66
65
61
58
63
64
67
65
64
61
63
L.S.D.0.05 / 5 / 5 / 8.43 / 12.00 / 2.88 / 8.33
- As an average for both cultivars.
Fruit mineral content:
The data in Table (4), irrespective the effect of different fertilization treatments, showed that Zaghloul fruits tend to contain higher concentrations of nitrogen, magnesium, zinc and manganese and lower contents of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron and copper as compared with those of Samany fruits in both seasons of study.
As for the effect of different fertilization treatments, irrespective the difference between cultivars, the data in Table (7) showed that fruit nitrogen content was significantly higher in ammonium nitrate and urea treatments than that in cattle manure in both seasons, while the other remaining treatments showed intermediate values between the two extremes. This means that artificial fertilizers markedly increase fruit content of nitrogen than natural (organic) fertilizers. As for fruit phosphorus content, it was higher in chicken manure alone and cattle manure plus urea treatments in both seasons but the significant differences were found in 1998 only (Table 7). These results partially agreed with those
of [13] on Zaghloul date palm.
The lowest significant value of fruit content of potassium was found in town refuse treatment as compared with that of most remaining treatments, generally, especially in 1998. In addition, cattle manure significantly decreased it in 1999 as compared with that of chicken manure treatment. These findings are partially agreed with those reported by [13 and 1] on some fruit crops.
The concentration of calcium in fruits had no consistent trend in relation to the different fertilization treatments in both seasons. Thus, cattle manure caused a significant increase in fruit content of calcium in the first season only as compared with most other treatments while there no significant differences among the different treatments in the second season (Table 7). The results obtained partially agreed with those reported by [9] on Khudari dates, who found that the chemical and organic fertilizers did not affect significantly on fruit content of calcium. As for content of magnesium, there was no consistent trend for it in the different fertilization treatments in both seasons of study (Table 7). However, cattle manure contains higher quantity of magnesium while town refuse and chicken manure contains a lower content (Table 2) and this partially reflected on fruit content of magnesium in both seasons of study especially when town refuse combined with urea as shown in Table (7). These results are disagreed with [13], who found that chicken manure caused a significant higher magnesium content in date flesh of Zaghloul cultivar than that of cattle manure. Fruit content of iron was significantly higher in cattle manure in 1998, and town refuse or cattle manure plus urea treatments in 1999 while the lowest values were found in chicken manure alone or town refuse combined with ammonium nitrate in both seasons of study (Table 8). These findings agreed with those obtained by [1] working on Maghrabi banana. They found that the adding of organic combined with inorganic fertilizers produced fruits with a higher content of iron. As for fruit zinc content, the highest values were found in urea and
Table (7): Fruit content* of macronutrients (% on dry weight basis) of date palm cultivars
as affected by organic, inorganic and combined fertilization treatments in 1998 and 1999 seasons.
Treatment / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99N / P / K / Ca / Mg
1. Ammonium nitrate (Am)
2. Urea (U)
3. Chicken manure (Ch)
4. Cattle manure (Ca)
5. Town refuse (T)
6. ½ Ch + ½ Am
7. ½ Ch + ½ U
8. ½ Ca + ½ Am
9. ½ Ca + ½ U
10.½ T + ½ Am
11.½ T + ½ U / 0.93
0.93
0.83
0.71
0.62
0.95
0.86
0.74
0.75
0.67
0.81 / 0.83
0.83
0.65
0.59
0.70
0.69
0.69
0.72
0.72
0.75
0.79 / 0.099
0.099
0.105
0.101
0.097
0.099
0.103
0.104
0.105
0.096
0.099 / 0.094
0.093
0.100
0.091
0.090
0.099
0.090
0.092
0.96
0.096
0.094 / 0.69
0.71
0.71
0.70
0.67
0.70
0.71
0.70
0.70
0.69
0.69 / 0.71
0.71
0.72
0.69
0.69
0.70
0.70
0.71
0.70
0.70
0.70 / 0.59
0.58
0.54
0.67
0.63
0.57
0.51
0.58
0.59
0.59
0.56 / 0.51
0.51
0.53
0.51
0.49
0.61
0.54
0.52
0.50
0.61
0.53 / 0.34
0.34
0.34
0.36
0.33
0.35
0.36
0.33
0.35
0.34
0.34 / 0.35
0.35
0.34
0.33
0.33
0.37
0.33
0.36
0.33
0.35
0.32
L.S.D.0.05 / 0.14 / 0.13 / 0.007 / 0.010 / 0.03 / 0.02 / 0.08 / 0.12 / 0.03 / 0.04
As an average for both cultivars.
cattle manure plus urea treatments in 1998, and chicken manure treatment in 1999 while the lowest value was found in town refuse plus ammonium nitrate treatment in 1998, and town refuse alone in 1999, while the values of the other treatments were in between in both seasons (Table 8). The present results partially agreed with those of [18], who found that urea treatment significantly increased fruit zinc content than that of ammonium nitrate.
As for fruit content of Manganese, there were no significant differences among fertilization treatments in both seasons of study except one case in 1999, where combining urea with town refuse significantly increased it as compared with chicken manure alone and ammonium nitrate plus town refuse treatments, (Table 8). [4] reported that the decomposition of organic materials produced some organic acids which caused a lower soil pH value, and consequently increased the availability of nutrients in soil. Fruit content of copper was significantly higher in cattle manure plus urea in both seasons of study as well as town refuse alone in 1998 and town refuse plus ammonium nitrate in 1999 as compared with most treatments in each season. The present levels of copper (7.72 to 8.87 ppm) in date fruits under all organic and inorganic fertilization treatments are within the range reported by [3], who mentioned that the concentration of copper in peel and pulp of prickly pear fruit under different irrigation water sources were 5.93-14.30 ppm.
Correlation coefficients:
Correlation coefficients between pinnae content of eight elements were calculated to show the relationships between these
Table (8): Fruit content* of micronutrients (ppm on dry weight basis) of date
palm cultivars as affected by organic, inorganic and combined fertilization
treatments in 1998 and 1999 seasons.
Treatment / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99 / 98 / 99Fe / Zn / Mn / Cu
1. Ammonium nitrate (Am)
2. Urea (U)
3. Chicken manure(Ch)
4. Cattle manure (Ca)
5. Town refuse (T)
6. ½ Ch + ½ Am
7. ½ Ch + ½ U
8. ½ Ca + ½ Am
9. ½ Ca + ½ U
10.½ T + ½ Am
11.½ T + ½ U / 55.78
55.29
53.70
59.81
53.88
55.52
54.45
55.56
56.27
52.73
53.79 / 61.05
62.29
60.43
61.74
63.22
62.60
62.29
62.29
62.91
61.36
61.67 / 55
60
55
55
54
54
56
54
60
50
56 / 58
59
63
60
49
58
56
58
58
55
57 / 48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48
48 / 47
50
47
49
50
50
50
50
49
47
51 / 9.10
8.76
9.20
8.94
9.57
9.18
8.75
9.25
9.65
9.16
8.91 / 8.61
7.94
8.34
8.54
8.24
8.23
8.23
8.58
8.87
7.72
7.85
L.S.D.0.05 / 5.51 / 1.76 / 9.31 / 7.69 / 1.45 / 3.55 / 0.40 / 0.36
- As an average for both cultivars.
elements to use some of them as indicators for the others. The total correlation coefficients calculated reached to 28 coefficients for each cultivar. The significant correlation coefficients in this group are as follows:
- In Zaghloul cultivar:
1.Correlation coefficient between pinnae content of Zn and P was positive and significant. It reached to 0.338 in 1998 and 0.304 in 1999. This means that the increase in pinnae content of phosphorus is accompanying with the increase in pinnae content of Zn and vice versa in Zaghloul cultivar.
2.Correlation coefficient between pinnae content of K and Zn was positive. It was significant in the first season (0.436) and
nearly significant in the second season (0.200). This means that pinnae content of either K or Zn are independent but the decrease of K concentration is accompanying with the decrease in Zn concentration in the pinnae.
3.Correlation coefficient between pinnae content of Ca and Zn was significant and positive. It reached to 0.429 in 1998 and 0.341 in the second season. This means that the increase in pinnae calcium content is accompanying with the increase of Zn in pinnae of Zaghloul cultivar. The other correlation coefficients (25) between the different concentrations of elements (8 element) were not significant or did not had a consistent trend in both seasons of study and therefore they could not be used for a stable relationships between the different determined elements in Zaghloul pinnae.