Abstract:
In Turkey, more than 95% of the pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) orchards are not irrigated. Therefore, a 4-year field trial was
conducted to determine the effect of Tarımbor fertiliser (containing 18.5% boron [B]) on the yield, quality, and B content of two
pistachio cultivars (‘Uzun’ and ‘Siirt’) planted under nonirrigated conditions. Tarımbor was applied to the pistachio trees as a soil
application (0, 200, 400, and 600 g/tree) and a foliar spray (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% w/v, using a tractor-mounted sprayer at the
‘early bud break’ stage and the ‘fully leafed out’ stage). Both the soil and foliar applications of Tarımbor had a significant effect on the
pistachio yield, quality, and B content compared with the control. However, the foliar application resulted in greater improvements in
the B content of leaves in both cultivars and the split nut ratio and kernel ratio in ‘Uzun’. The greatest increases in yield were observed
for the 0.3% foliar application for ‘Uzun’ (30%) and the 200 g/tree soil application for ‘Siirt’ (59%). In terms of quality, the application of
Tarımbor appeared to have a greater effect on ‘Uzun’ than on ‘Siirt’. No vegetative symptoms of B toxicity were observed in either cultivar
when high concentrations of B were applied. Thus, Tarımbor could be used effectively as a foliar spray to enhance the B levels in the
leaves of pistachio trees grown under nonirrigated conditions.
