Effects of Mycorrhiza, Chicken Manure Pellet, and Calcium Foliar Application on Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Fruit Yield and Leaves Nutrient Elements

In order to study the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation, chicken manure pellet, and calcium foliar application on the fruit yield and contents of nutrient elements in leaves of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), a factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in 2013, in a pomegranate garden in Darab County, Iran. Treatments included two levels of 0 and 500 g. tree-1 mycorrhiza, three levels of 0, 250, and 500 g. tree-1 chicken manure pellet and  foliar spray of calcium at two levels of without and twice foliar spray of 5% calcium chloride. Mycorrhiza and chicken manure pellet were used before flowering while foliarcalcium was applied before and after flowering. The results showed that the main effects of mycorrhizal inoculation, foliar application of calcium, and chicken manure pellet application were significant on most of the studied characteristics. The highest yield of fruits, i. e. 24 kg per tree (42% more than the control), the highest average weight of fruits, kernel weight, and maximum concentration of calcium, phosphorus, iron and copper were obtained from combined application of 500 g mycorrhiza, 500 g of chicken manure pellet, and foliar application of calcium. Based on the results, combined application of calcium foliar spray, 500 g mycorrhiza and 500 g of chicken manure pellet can be recommended in similar conditions. However, since this experiment was carried out in one year, further investigation is needed to achieve results that are more reliable.