Improve the Growth and Yield of Figs by Foliar Nutrition at Post-Harvest

Submission Track Abstract A factorial experiment was carried out by spraying the fig (Ficus carica L.) trees cv. Aswad Diyala at post-harvest in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, in one orchards of Diwaniyah city/ Iraq, with two liquid fertilizers: Azomin and Prosol at 3 levels (0, 3 and 6) g.l -1 and (0, 2 and 4) g.l -1 , respectively. The results showed that third level of both fertilizers gave The widest leaf area:{(5.53, 6.42) and (5.52 , 6.38)}m 2 .tree -1 , highest leaf content of chlorophyll {(131.63 ,55.211) , (132.63 , 130.93)}mg.100g -1 more N percent of leaf {(2.12 , 2.11) , (2.31, 2.34)}%, highest carbohydrates percent of leaf {(14.65 , 15.10) , (14.83, 15.02)}%, for compounds and seasons, respectively. As for the crop that took place in the 2015 and 2016 seasons gave the highest yield{(20.50, 21.66) (20.80, 21.30)}kg.tree -1 , most level of K in the fruit{(280.10, 272.70), (292.40, 288.50)}mg.100g -1 and highest content of anthocyanin{(512.10, 519.90), (482.90, 494.50)} mg.100g -1 . There was a significant interaction between the experimental factors, which reached a peak in the third level, in the leaf area in the 2014 and 2015 seasons (5.51 and 6.86) m 2 .tree -1 , and the anthocyanin in the 2015 and 2016 seasons in fruit (518.20 and 534.80) mg.100g -1 , respectively. It can be concluded that the post-harvest spraying of Aswad Diyala cv., with the, Azomin and Prosol at the levels of 6 and 4g.l -1 , respectively, gave the best results2 Received : 14/9/2017 Final Revision : 24/9/2017


Introduction
The figs (Ficus carica L.) is member of Moraceae family, is a deciduous fruit tree of temperate and subtropical regions, originated from Asia Minor and Syria, It is first cultured and selected species in Southwest Asia, and one of the oldest plants in the world cultivated by humans, 11,400 years ago (1). Iraqi fig cultivars are classified as common type, "Common-type, with only pistillate flowers developing into parthenocarpic fruits, is considered advanced and includes most commercial cvs" (2). Aswad Diyala cv. is the best of Iraqi fig cvs in the quality, especially in antioxidants, the most important of which are anthocyanin (3,4) found that the antioxidant capacity is the highest in Aswad Diyala cv. The antioxidant capacity of figs is closely associated with the fruit components of phenols and anthocyanin (5). Post-harvest of figs at the end of summer and autumn start, tree re-grow for two months or longer before leaves falling, a period equivalent to more than a third of pre-harvest season. In this period may neglect trees and did not think the owners of orchards that the remaining growth of the season needs nutrients. The amount of reserve nitrogen (N) at post-harvest affects tree growth and fruiting in the following season (6). Increasing N reserves has become one of the goals of nursery and orchard management, to ensure high tree productivity (7). Seasonal variations in fig leaf nutrient concentrations are similar to those of other tree crops. Marked declines in tissue K and N concentrations toward the end of the season may indicate a need for supplemental N and K fertilization in highly productive orchards. The potential for K deficiency in figs also is indicated by the generally lower leaf K concentrations in the low vigor orchards examined (8). Foliar application of urea in September or October supplied the equivalent of about 20% of crop nitrogen content, but only 14% when applied shortly before leaf senescence in November (9). Although urea spray can be used at any time during the growing season and even during the dormant season, autumn application may be most effective for deciduous trees because high urea concentrations can be used with minimal concern about phytotoxicity (10). (11) found when ostharvest foliar applied on apple trees with or without urea was efficiently transported from the leaves into storage tissues for the next year s growth (12) was found Post-harvest B sprays are successful in improving reproductive growth and should be recommended without the addition of urea. It is suggested that combined B sprays with urea may be applied in autumn to apple trees with limited soil B and N availability.

Materials and Methods
The study was conducted on mature Trees was sprayed so full wetness with three levels of both nutritious fertilizers Azomin (liquid containing organic nitrogen 5% and organic carbon 10% provides the plant proteins and amino acids by 32%), and Prosol {macronutrients NPK(30-10-10) in addition to micronutrients (B --Cu -Fe -Mn -Zn -Mo)} (Table-1). Levels used: (0, 3, and 6) g.l -1 and (0, 2 and 4) g.l -1 , Symbolized her (A 0 , A 1 , A 2 ) and (P 0 , P 1 , P 2 ), respectively. When preparing solutions, add several drops per liter of Tween 20 as a diffuse material. Conducted three times between spraying one and another about two weeks starting on 9/15 after the completion of harvest fruits, 10/1 and 10/15 in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The trees in all treatments received the same of preharvest services including nutrients additives to soil and foliar spray and all fruits of the first crop were remove immediately after emergence at the start of growth in the three seasons 2014-2016. Spraying was conducted in the early morning. The leaves were taken on 10/25 for both 2014 and 2015 seasons to measure the leaf area, total chlorophyll, nitrogen and total carbohydrates. The area of the leaf was calculate according to the method (14). Total chlorophyll was determined in leaves as well (15). Nitrogen concentration (%) was measure in the leaves using a MicroKjeldahl device, Potassium (%) with a Flame photometer as well (8) and total carbohydrates were measured in the leaves as well (16). On each harvested day from the 2015 and 2016 seasons, the fruits from the marked tree for each experimental unit were weighed and added to their weight from the previous harvest, Thus, until the end of the harvest, the total is the total yield of each tree. (17) followed for measure of anthocyanin. The statistical analysis of the results was performed using the GenStat Version12.1.0.3338 program (18). The differences between the averages were compared with the least significant difference of LSD at a probability level of 0.05.

Leaf Area
The results of Table (2) showed that the spraying of nutritious fertilizer Azomin (A) resulted in a significant increase in the leaf area of Aswad Diyala fig cv. The A 2 treatment (6 g.l -1 ) gave the highest mean of leaf area (5.53 and 6.42) m 2 .tree -1 for both 2014 and 2015 seasons, respectively. While A 0 gave the lowest mean (5.16 and 5.75) m 2 .tree -1 for the two seasons, respectively. The treatment with Prosol P 2 (4 g.l -1 ) gave the highest mean of the above character (5.52 and 6.38) m 2 .tree -1 . While P 0 gave the lowest mean of leaf area (5.18 and 5.79) m 2 .tree -1 , for the two seasons, respectively. The interaction was significantly higher in the leaf area with the highest mean of A 2 P 2 (5.85 and 6.86) m 2 .tree -1 , while the control treatment (A 0 P 0 ) gave the lowest mean of (5.03 and 5.48) m 2 .tree -1 for the two seasons, respectively.

Nitrogen
The results of Table (4) indicate that the foliar application of the nutritious Azomin (A) was significantly increase in the nitrogen percent in leaf of Aswad Diyala figs. The A 2 treatment (6 g.l -1 ) gave the highest N percent (2.12 and 2.11)% For both 2014 and 2015 seasons, respectively. While A 1 did not differ from A 0 in the 2014 season, but surpassed it in the 2015. Prosol (P 2 ) treatment (4g.l -1 ) also significantly increase of N, with a percent of (2.31 and 2.34) % in both seasons, respectively. P 0 and P 1 were not significantly different in nitrogen percent in both seasons. There was no significant interaction between nutrients in both seasons. There was no significant interaction between the nutrients in both seasons. .67) kg.tree -1 for both seasons, respectively. The spraying treatment with Prosol P 2 (4g.l -1 ) gave the highest mean of the above character (20.80 and 21.30) kg.tree -1 in the both 2015 and 2016 seasons, respectively. P 0 and P 1 were not significantly different in quantity of fruits in both seasons. There was no significant interaction between nutrients in both seasons. and 249.5) mg.100g. -1 for the seasons, respectively. Prosol P 2 (4g.l -1 ) also significantly increased K (292.4 and 288.2) mg.100g. -1 for both seasons, respectively. P 0 and P 1 were not significantly different in K content in both seasons. There was no significant interaction between nutrients in both seasons. also increased significantly the anthocyanin (482.9 and 494.5) mg.100g -1 , for the both seasons, respectively. P 0 and P 1 did not significantly differ in the mean of anthocyanin in both seasons. There was a significant interaction between the nutrients in the dye with the highest mean of treatment A 2 P 2 (518.2 and 534.8) mg.100g -1 , for the both seasons, respectively.  (Table 2) may be attributed to treatment by nutrients especially N, which is "the main driver of the leaf area that will be achieved by increasing cell division and cell expansion" (19). Leaf area increment could be due to improving cell size and cell number by N application and increase in net photosynthesis and growth of leaves (20). In addition to nitrogen, there is also boron (B) found in the rosol, "the effect of the studied N and B on activating of both cell division and elongating in the meristematic tissues as well as the biosynthesis of organic foods" (21). Total chlorophyll Nitrogen it is very important in synthesis protoplasm of cells, tissues, and all parts of the plant, without it the plant growth and development is weak, the yield and quality of the crop affected by it deficiency. "Nitrogen is the constituent -which is an integral constituent of proteins, nuclleic acids, chlorophyll, co-enzymes, phytohormones and secondary metabolites" (22). foliar nutrition for apples at post-harvest would have more available N for chlorophyll synthesis which enhances photosynthesis (23). Therefore, the significant increase in leaf content of total chlorophyll (Table 3) may be due to N and other essential nutrients in two fertilizers that activate enzymes biosynthesis amino acids and proteins as well as participate in the synthesis of chlorophyll. This increase in chlorophyll of Aswad Diyala fig leaf agree with increase of this parameter by (23) in apples leaf at postharvest nutrition.
Nitrogen N The significant increase in N percent in fig leaves (Table 4) may be due to the uptake of urea, which accounts for more than 28% of the composition of the Prosol (Table 2), because the uptake of urea and the transition to the perennial parts may be similar to the peach (Prunus persica), within 4-7 days after spraying (9). This researcher confirmed that leaves produce 60% or more of N-urea at the beginning of autumn (September and October) But less than 50% when spraying before the leaves fall short November. He also confirmed that the use of urea in September and October is equivalent to 20% of the nitrogen content of the crop but only 14% when used in November2 Organic N in the Azomin may be involved in increasing the N percent of the leaves.
We have sprayed the three times between once in two weeks and it is possible that the high N percent may come from the decomposition of proteins and amino acids that make up 32% of the Azomin compound as well as the remaining N urea in the leaves.
Total Carbohydrates (CHs) The significant increase in the percent of total CHs in leaves (Table 5) may be due to the increase of photosynthesis effectiveness because increase leaf area and total chlorophyll ( Table 2 and 3) "The availability of metabolites, most of which are produced in the leaf, depends on the process of photosynthesis" (22), Perhaps the presence of organic carbon in the Azomin has been analyzed and faster than the stabilization of carbon in the process of photosynthesis and thus increase total CHs.
Crop of fruits Aswad Diyala fig cultivar gives fruit crops more than once a year. The first crop appears with the bud burst at beginning of spring on the terminal of last year branches, all fruits of this crop are abscission. There is no benefit, Should be removed as soon as they appear, So as not to depleted nutrients stored in trees, added, or in the soil, with metabolites produced from the process of photosynthesis. At the April, the second crop appears on the laterally branches in the axilla of the leaves or new branches. Figs differ from other deciduous fruit trees, such as apples, where there is only one crop showing flowers, as the new spring growth begins, and it needs boron to flowering and fruit set (11)(12). For figs, The effect of post-harvest foliar nutrition on the following crop is indirect, because the storage of nutrients and assimilatesincreased leaf area and chlorophyll -in the perennial parts of the tree in the previous season (Table 2 and 3), is beneficial for growth in the spring, and with the first crop being removed, more nutrients are available, and the resulting nutrients increase this season. The increase in crop of fruits due to post-harvest foliar nutrition obtained in this experiment (Table 6) is Consistent with the result of the experiments of (12)(13).
Potassium K The significant increase in the content of K in fruits (Table 7) may be due to the increase of vegetative growth and adequate nutrient uptake increases fruit activity which leading to increased fruit efficiency in the absorption of photosynthates and nutrients, including K. The fruits of figs contain more K than all other nutrients. The good growth of trees in postharvest nutrition in the previous season and their supply of nutrients when the second crop appears in the current season increases the growth efficiency of processing the leaves for this crop, which requires sugar and nutrients, including (24) has shown that "The distribution of these substances is affected by the deficiency or imbalance of nutrients as well as the development of the sink parts (fruit) and the completion of the source (leaf) for the function of the plant needs a sufficient supply of nutrients" (25) have confirmed that the sink need regulates nutrient uptake. In the grape Potassium is absorbed by the roots and distributed to all parts of the vine, early in the season, when the growth rate is high, much of the K accumulates in the leaves, after véraison, a sharp increase in berry K is observed as a result of K redistribution from leaves to berries (26). Potassium uptake by Cabernet Sauvignon berries is slow before véraison and strongly increases when ripening starts in the same proportion as sink strength and phloem water influx (27).
Anthocyanin (28) show that the increase in fruit color is due to increased fruit content of anthocyanin, which is due to the high accumulation of carbohydrates. In the grape variety Flam Seedles color and phenolic compounds increased by increasing the level of fertilizer (29). The nutrients, especially K, play a role in the translocation of sugar to the fruits and activation of reactions in them and synthesis of phenols, including anthocyanin, (30) explained, "as much as 50% of total K taken up by the grapevines accumulates in berries. Its functions in the fruit are related to synthesis reactions and enzymatic activation, directly contributing to fruit maturation, sugar synthesis, and the maintenance of cell turgor. In addition, through its mobility in the phloem and xylem, K is important in the transport of solutes, the partition of assimilates, and the synthesis of polyphenols responsible for fruit color and aroma" The increase in anthocyanins in fig fruit (Table 8) may be due to increased uptake of potassium fruits (