Effects of Organic Manure and Nettle Extract on Growth and Fruit Quality of three Apple (Malus domestica Borkh) Cultivars

Nabi, Hasan Saleem; Tayib, Azad Ahmed

doi:10.58928/ku26.17119

	Effects of Organic Manure and Nettle Extract on Growth and Fruit Quality of three Apple (Malus domestica Borkh) Cultivars
Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences (KUJAS)
Volume 17, Issue 1, March 2026, Pages 162-173 PDF (678.85 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.58928/ku26.17119
Authors
Hasan Saleem Nabi^* ¹; Azad Ahmed Tayib²
¹University of Duhok. College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences. Department of Horticulture.
²Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok, Duhok, Iraq
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of spraying of liquid organic manure (Biofoliar) at three concentrations (0, 2, and 4 ml.L-1) and plant extract Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) at three concentrations (0, 100, and 200 mg.L-1) on three apple tree cultivars (Starking, Granny smith and Local) in private orchard in Majilmakht, Duhok, Iraq. During growing season of 2024. The data were collected and organized according to factorial randomized complete block design with tree replications, then the data were analyzed by SAS program, treatment means was compared for statistical significance using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a p<0.05 probability level. The results indicate that the Granny Smith cultivar had the advantage in improving most of the taken traits except of total yield, the Starking cultivar bear high product, spraying of organic manure and nettle extract significantly enhanced vegetative parameters (shoot length, shoot diameter), leaf nutrient contents of (N, P, and K), and improve fruit traits (fruit weight, fruit size, fruit nitrogen content, fruit protein content and total yield) compared to the control. The highest rates of organic manure (4 ml.L⁻¹) and nettle extract (200 mg.L⁻¹) consistently produced the most pronounced effects. ‘Granny Smith’ emerged as the most responsive cultivar, recording the highest fruit weight (206.94 g), and leaf phosphorus content (0.743%). ‘Starking’ showed superior fruit yield (85.97 kg.tree⁻¹), vegetative growth, achieving the greatest shoot length (66.67 cm) and leaf potassium content (1.744%). The best interaction was organic manure (4 ml.L⁻¹) + nettle extract (200 mg.L⁻¹) with Granny smith cultivar lead to improve most studied traits.
Keywords
Apple fruit; Organic manure; Nettle extract; Granny smith; Starking

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