Kousa, T., Kharbotli, R., Boessa, A. (2025). The Effect of Spraying Boron, Potassium, and Seaweed Extract on The Nutrient and Chlorophyll Content of Apple Tree Leaves. , 23(2), 1053-1065. doi: 10.32649/ajas.2025.189124
T. A. Kousa; R. N. Kharbotli; A. Boessa. "The Effect of Spraying Boron, Potassium, and Seaweed Extract on The Nutrient and Chlorophyll Content of Apple Tree Leaves". , 23, 2, 2025, 1053-1065. doi: 10.32649/ajas.2025.189124
Kousa, T., Kharbotli, R., Boessa, A. (2025). 'The Effect of Spraying Boron, Potassium, and Seaweed Extract on The Nutrient and Chlorophyll Content of Apple Tree Leaves', , 23(2), pp. 1053-1065. doi: 10.32649/ajas.2025.189124
Kousa, T., Kharbotli, R., Boessa, A. The Effect of Spraying Boron, Potassium, and Seaweed Extract on The Nutrient and Chlorophyll Content of Apple Tree Leaves. , 2025; 23(2): 1053-1065. doi: 10.32649/ajas.2025.189124

The Effect of Spraying Boron, Potassium, and Seaweed Extract on The Nutrient and Chlorophyll Content of Apple Tree Leaves

Anbar Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Volume 23, Issue 2, December 2025, Pages 1053-1065    PDF (542.3 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.32649/ajas.2025.189124
Authors
T. A. Kousa; R. N. Kharbotli; A. Boessa
Dept. of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Lattakia University, Lattakia, Syria
Abstract
This study was conducted in the Kassab area in Lattakia to examine the effect of spraying apple trees with marine algae extract, potassium, and boron. It dealt with eight factors: spraying with potassium (0.5%), boron (0.2%), marine algae extract, mixing potassium and boron, potassium and algae, algae, potassium, and boron, and with water only. The complete randomized design was used covering 24 trees with each transaction having 3 trees with one repeater tree. Averages were compared by the GenStat program and the lowest moral extent. The leaf content of nutrients and chlorophyll was significantly affected. The findings showed an increase in the ratios of nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium-calcium-magnesium-boron and total chlorophyll in the leaves. The nitrogen content of the leaves increased significantly by 2.447% when sprayed with marine algae extract for an average of two years compared to 1.63%. The marine algae extract treatment offered the highest phosphorous at 2.447%. The treatment with boron, potassium and marine algae outperformed the others for the two years at 1.203% and 1.293%, respectively. The boron treatment gave a significant effect over the others at 0.551%. The interaction between boron, potassium and marine algae showed remarkable improvement over the rest with the boron content in the leaves reaching 46.21 pm. For leaf chlorophyll content, the mixing treatment of potassium and boron outweighed the rest at 2.22 mg/g compared to the 1.29 mg/g for the control and exceeded that for marine algae extract of 2.30 mg/g while the control had 1.41 mg/kg. Total chlorophyll content for the boron and potassium was highest at 4.25 mg/g compared to the control (2.70 mg/g)
Keywords
Foliar application; Leaves; Minerals; Chlorophyll; Apples
References
  1. Abdel-Sattar, M., and Hammad, S. E. (2022). Eco-friendly management of citrus nematode (Tylenchulus semipenetrans) using ozone, copper sulphate and calcium sulphate and its impact on productivity of lemon trees. Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology, 63(6): 779-792. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13580-022-00446-2..
  2. Al-Ealayawi, Z. A., and Al-Dulaimy, A. F. (2023). Marine algae and applications to plant nutrition: A review. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1158(2023): 042004. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/1158/4/042004.
  3. Al-Ealayawi, Z. A., and Al-Dulaimy, F. Z. (2023). The impact of spraying marine algae extract, arginine, and brassinolide on vegetative growth traits of Albion Strawberry saplings. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1262(4): 042061. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/1262/4/042061.
  4. Al-Hadethi, M. E. A. (2015). Effect of different fertilization sources and the growth regulator (Brassinosteroids) on growth and yield of apricot trees. PhD. Thesis, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad.
  5. Al-Hadethi, M. E. A., and Al-Dulaimi, A. S. T. (2019). Effect of foliar application of potassium and sea weed extracts on growth of olive transplants. International Scientific Conference for Agricultural Sciences. Kirkuk University, 310-315.
  6. Al-Marsoumi, F. S., and Al-Hadethi, M. E. A. (2020). Effect of humic acid and seaweed extract spray in leaf mineral content of mango Seedlings. Plant Archives, 20(1): 827-830.
  7. Blunden, G., Jenkins, T., and Liu, Y. W. (1996). Enhanced leaf chlorophyll levels in plants treated with seaweed extract. Journal of applied phycology, 8(6): 535-543. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02186333.
  8. Dhar, R. P. (1987). Cold storage behavior of Starking Delicious apple in relation to pre and post-harvest treatments. PhD. Thesis, Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
  9. Ferrnandez V., and Eichert, T. (2009). Uptake of hydrophilic solutes through plant leaves: Current state of knowledge and perspectives of foliar fertilization. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, 28 (1-2): 36-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352680902743069.
  10. Ganai, N. A. (2006). Effect of pre–harvest calcium and boron application on the quality and yield of apple (Malus*domestica borkh). Cv Red Delicious under temperate conditions of Kashmir. PhD Thesis, Sher-e Kashmir University of agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir.
  11. Hanson, E. J. (1991). Sour cherry trees respond to foliar boron applications. HortScience, 26(9): 1142-1145. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.26.9.1142.
  12. Harhash, M. M., Nasr Alla, W. M. E., and Mosa, W. F. A. (2022). Response of “Kalllmata” olive cultivar to foliar application of moringa extract, boron, and zinc. Egyptian Academic Journal of Biological Sciences, H. Botany, 13(2): 171-178. https://doi.org/10.21608/eajbsh.2022.275939.
  13. Hou, W., Tränkner, M., Lu, J., Yan, J., Huang, S., Ren, T., ... and Li, X. (2019). Interactive effects of nitrogen and potassium on photosynthesis and photosynthetic nitrogen allocation of rice leaves. BMC plant biology, 19(1): 302. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-019-1894-8.
  14. Hussien, M. H., and Hamad, R. M. (2025). Effect of micronutrient nanoparticles injection and seaweed extract application on some vegetative, chemical characteristics, and yield of apple tree cv. Ibrahimi. Anbar Journal of Agriculture Sciences, 23(1): 755-769. https://doi.org/10.32649/ajas.2025.186769.
  15. Ibrahim, H. I. M., and Al-Wasfy, M. M. (2014). The promotive impact of using silicon and selenium with potassium and boron on fruiting of Valencia orange trees grown under Minia region conditions. World Rural Observations, 6(2): 28-36.
  16. Kader, S. A., Spalevic, V., and Dudic, B. (2024). Feasibility study for estimating optimal substrate parameters for sustainable green roof in Sri Lanka. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 26(1)” 2507-2533. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02837-y.
  17. Kunicki, E., Grabowska, A., Sękara, A., and Wojciechowska, R. (2010). The effect of cultivar type, time of cultivation, and biostimulant treatment on the yield of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). Folia Horticulturae, 22(2): 9-13. DOI: 10.2478/fhort-2013-0153.
  18. Marschner, P. (1995). Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Second Edition. San Diego: Academic Press, 379-396.
  19. Martin, J. (2012). Impact of marine extracts applications on cv. Syrah grape (Vitis vinifera L.) Yield components, harvest juice quality parameters, and nutrient uptake. MSc. Thesis, Faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
  20. Morales-Payan, J. P., and Norrie, J. (2010). Accelerating the growth of Avocado (persea Americana) in the nursery using a soil applied, commercial extract of the brown alga Ascophyllum nodosum. International Sea-weed Symposium, 189.
  21. Mosa, W. F. A. E., El-Megeed, N. A. A., and Paszt, L. S. (2015). The effect of the foliar application of potassium, calcium, boron and humic acid on vegetative growth, fruit set, leaf mineral, yield and fruit quality of'Anna'apple trees. Journal of Experimental Agriculture International, 8(4): 224-234. https://doi.org/10.9734/AJEA/2015/16716.
  22. Mousavi, S. M., Jafari, A., and Shirmardi, M. (2024). The effect of seaweed foliar application on yield and quality of apple cv.‘Golden Delicious’. Scientia Horticulturae, 323: 112529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112529.
  23. Murad, H. J., and Al-Dulaimy, A. F. Z. (2021). Response of date palms cv. Zahdi to foliar spray with urea and seaweed extract. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 761(1): 012052. DOI:10.1088/1755-1315/761/1/012052.
  24. Nieves-Cordonnes, M., Al Shibblawi, F. R., and Sentenac, H. (2016). Roles and transport of sodium and potassium in plants. Metal Ions in Life Sciences, 16: 291- 324. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21756-7.
  25. Singh, R., Sharma, R. R., and Tyagi, S. K. (2007). Pre-harvest foliar application of calcium and boron influences physiological disorders, fruit yield and quality of strawberry (Fragaria× ananassa Duch.). Scientia horticulturae, 112(2): 215-220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2006.12.019.
  26. Taha, R. A., Hassan, H. S. A., and Shaaban, E. A. (2014). Effect of different potassium fertilizer forms on yield, fruit quality and leaf mineral content of Zebda mango trees. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 21(1): 123-129. DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2014.21.03.21483.
  27. Tanou, G., Ziogas, V., and Molassiotis, A. (2017). Foliar nutrition, biostimulants and prime-like dynamics in fruit tree physiology: new insights on an old topic. Frontiers in plant science, 8: 75. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00075.
  28. Verkleij, F. N. (1992). Seaweed extracts in agriculture and horticulture: a review. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 8(4): 309-324. https://doi.org/10.1080/01448765.1992.9754608.
  29. Wojcik, P., Wojcik, M., and Klamkowski, K. (2008). Response of apple trees to boron fertilization under conditions of low soil boron availability. Scientia horticulturae, 116(1): 58-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2007.10.032.
  30. Zargar, M., Tumanyan, A., Ivanenko, E., Dronik, A., Tyutyuma, N., and Pakina, E. (2019). Impact of foliar fertilization on apple and pear trees in reconciling productivity and alleviation of environmental concerns under arid conditions. Communicative and Integrative Biology, 12(1): 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/19420889.2019.1565252.
  31. Zhang, X., and Ervin, E. H. (2004). Cytokinin‐containing seaweed and humic acid extracts associated with creeping bentgrass leaf cytokinins and drought resistance. Crop science, 44(5): 1737-1745. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2004.1737.
  32. Zhu, Z. L., and Chen, D. L. (2002). Nitrogen fertilizer use in China–Contributions to food production, impacts on the environment and best management strategies. Nutrient cycling in agroecosystems, 63(2): 117-127. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021107026067.
Statistics
Article View: 761
PDF Download: 215


Journal Management System. Powered by iJournalPro.com