الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study was conducted during the seasons 2020 and 2021 on 16-year-old Sultani Fig trees at Shindawil Island Farm, Research Station - Sohag Governorate - Egypt. where the soil is clay. Forty-two trees of similar growth and fruiting were selected and planted on 5 X 5 meters apart. The study was divided into two experiments covering the objectives of the study.
First experiment:
The present work was conducted through two successive seasons of 2021 and 2022 on 27 fig trees uniform in vigor, healthy, good physical conditions, free from insects and diseases. Sixteen years-old Sultani Fig trees propagated by stem cuttings and growing in the farm of Shandawil island research station Sohag, Egypt. They had grown in a clay soil at 5 X 5 meters apart under surface irrigation system. The total number of branches on tree was 72 branches/tree, where it was left during the winter pruning of trees. All trees received the same agriculture managements. This experiment included two factors, pinching shoots and pruning.
The treatment set up in randomized completely block design (RCBD) in split-plot arrangement with three replicates, one tree each. The whole and sub-plots were pinching and pruning, respectively. The whole plots (A) included the effect of pinching as follow:
A1- Pinching on May 15th.
A2- Pinching on June 15th.
A3- Unpinching.
Whereas, the sub-plots (B) involved the following three pruning levels as follow:
B1- Pruning by leaving two buds/shoot.
B2- Pruning by leaving four buds/shoot.
B3- Pruning by leaving six buds/shoot.
The experiment was set up as a complete randomized block design in split plot arrangement. The three pinching treatments occupied the main plots and the three pruning treatments the sub-plots with three replications per treatments.
The following parameters were determined during the two studied seasons.
1- some vegetative growth.
2- yield components.
3- fruit quality.
The results could be summarized as follow:
1- Effect of pinching and pruning on some vegetative growth: - The pinching shoots treatments caused a definite increase in each of the leaf area and the length of the branch as well as the thickness of the branch compared to the control trees (unpinching).
-The highest leaf area and lowest branch length were recorded as a result of pinching on May 15th.
- There was a significant increase in leaf area, shoot length, and shoot thickness as a result of pruning by leaving 2 buds/shoot.
- The results showed that there was a significant effect as a result of the interaction between pinching and different pruning treatments, where the best treatments with regard to leaf area were pinching on May 15th with pruning on 2 buds/shoot, and the highest readings were recorded in relation to the length and thickness of shoots when there are unpinching and pruning on 2 buds/ shoot.
2- Effect of pinching and pruning on yield components:
- There was a statistically confirmed increase in the weight of the yield/ tree and the percentage of ripeness in the fruits as a result of pinching on May 15th and June 15th, compared to unpinching.
- There are significant differences between the different pinching shoots treatments, and the best treatment was the pinching on May 15th.
- Pruning by leaving 4 eyes/spur and 6 buds/shoot caused a significant increase in the weight of the yield/tree and the percentage of fruit ripening compared to the pruning by leaving 2 buds/shoot.
- There were no significant differences between pruning by leaving 4 eyes/spur and 6 buds/shoot.
- The results of the interaction between the different pinching treatments and the different pruning treatments showed a significant increase in the weight of the yield/tree and the percentage of fruit ripeness.
- The highest weight of the yield was recorded when pinching on the 15th of May and pruning by leaving 6 buds/shoot, and the highest rate of ripening of the fruits when pinching on the 15th of May and pruning by leaving 4 buds/shoot.
- The lowest values were in the weight of the yield and the percentage of ripeness of the fruits when there are unpinching and pruning by leaving 2 buds/shoot.
3- Effect of pinching and pruning on physical properties:
-All pinching treatments led to a definite increase in fruit weight, length and width compared to unpinching.
The highest fruit weight, length and width of the fruit were recorded at pinching on May 15th.
- The pruning on 6 buds/shoot resulted in the highest fruit weight, length and width of the fruit compared to other pruning treatments, and there was no significant difference between the pruning by leaving 6 buds/shoot and the pruning leaving 4 buds/shoot in relation to the length and width of the fruit.
- The results of the interaction between pinching treatments and different pruning methods showed a significant increase in the physical characteristics of the fruits, compared to unpinching and pruning leaving 2 buds/shoot.
- The best results for the characteristics of the physical fruits were recorded when pinching on the 15th of May and pruning by leaving 6 buds/shoot.
4- Effect of pinching and pruning on chemicals properties:
- The different pinching treatments led to a definite increase in the percentage of total dissolved solids and reducing sugars and a significant decrease in acidity compared to the control treatment.
The best results for the chemical properties were recorded at the pinching on the 15th of May and the 15th of June, as there was no significant difference between them.
- Pruning by leaving 4 buds/shoot and 6 buds/shoot gave the best chemical characteristics compared to pruning by leaving 2 buds/shoot.
- There was no significant difference between pruning by leaving 4 eyes/spur and 6 buds/shoot.
- The results of the interaction between the pinching and pruning treatments showed a significant effect on the chemical characteristics of the fruits, and the best results were when pinching on May 15th and pruning by leaving 6 buds/shoot.
No significant differences were recorded as a result of the pinching treatment on May 15th + pruning by leaving 4buds/shoot and the pinching treatment on May 15th + pruning by leaving 6 buds/shoot.
It could be concluded that pinching shoots on May 15th and pruning by leaving four eyes/spur and their interaction led to a beneficial improvement of growth, vigor of trees as well as yield and fruit quality.
Second experiment:
The experiment was carried out to study the effect of different potassium on growth and fruiting of Sultani fig. trees. All trees received the same agriculture managements.
The treatments contained the following five treatments:
1- Control (sprayed with water only).
2- Application of potassium sulphate (50% K2O) 200 g/tree.
3- Spraying of vinass (2%) 5 L/tree.
4- Spraying of potassien (32% K) 312.5 ml/tree.
5- Spraying of potassium thiosulfate KTS (25%) 400 ml/tree.
All Potassium treatments were applied at the mid of May and July. All treatments were sprayed by using a backpack machine gun to the run off. The experimental was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, one tree/ replicate.
The following parameters were determined during the two studied seasons.
1- some vegetative growth.
2- yield components.
3- fruit quality.
The results could be summarized as follow:
1- Some vegetative growth:
- All potassium applications led to a significant increase in leaf area, shoot length and shoot thickness compared to the control treatment.
- The highest leaf area, shoot length and shoot thickness were recorded when spraying with Potassien.
- There were no significant differences between the treatment of spraying with vinasse, potassien and potassium thiosulfate in relation to the length of the shoot, while there were no significant differences between the different fertilization treatments in relation to the leaf area and the thickness of the shoot.
2- Yield components:
- All potassium applications led to a significant increase in the weight of the yield/tree and the percentage of ripening in the fruits compared to the control trees.
- The highest yield weight and fruit ripening percentage were recorded when spraying with potassien and vinasse.
- There are no significant differences between the different potassium fertilization treatments.
3- Physical properties:
- All potassium application led to a significant increase in fruit weight, length and diameter compared to control trees.
- There is no significant difference between potassium thiosulfate and potassium sulphate in fruit weight.
- The highest fruit weight, length and diameter were recorded when fertilizing with potassium thiosulfate.
4- Chemical properties:
- The different fertilization treatments led to a definite increase in the percentage of total soluble solids and reducing sugars and a significant decrease in acidity compared to the control treatment.
- The highest percentage of total soluble solids, reducing sugars and the lowest acidity was recorded in fruit juice when spraying with vinasse and spraying with potassein, and there was no significant difference between them.
As an overview, the results declared that using organic or bio-fertilizers were beneficial to improve the growth, yield and fruit quality. These advantages will eventually enable growers to obtain highly marketable surrounding and overseas markets as well as saving K fertilization cost and reducing environmental pollution.
Conclusion
On the light of the previous results, it could be concluded that:
Using pinching shoots on May 15th or on June 15th and pruning by leaving 4 buds/shoot were more effective in increasing the yield and improve the growth and fruit quality.
Using either of natural potassium source instead of mineral K are very necessary to produce heavy yield and improve the growth and fruit quality. Moreover, saving K fertilization cost and reducing environmental pollution.