The influence of soil application of some biofertilizers (Nitrobein (Ni), Enciabein (En), Phosphorene (Ph)) and Rock Phosphate (RP) on some vegetative growth, fruiting parameters, fruit properties and leaf mineral contents were studied on "Canino" apricot trees budded on local apricot rootstock grown in sandy soils during the two successive seasons of 2002 and 2003.
The obtained results indicated that all biofertilizers treatments under study resulted in a positive effect and significant increase in all vegetative growth measurements, i.e. shoot length, number of leaves per shoot, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, shoot thickness and shoot diameter increment %. Moreover, all investigated treatments significantly increased both tree yield (either kg or No. of fruits per tree) and yield increment % compared to the control (OMF). Additionally, data revealed that fruit physical properties such as fruit weight, volume, firmness, No. of fruits per kg, dimensions and fruit shape index as well as fruit chemical properties as TSS %, total acidity % and TSS/acid ratio were improved by different treatments in most cases as compared to the control. Furthermore, leaf nutrient (N, P and K) contents were significantly improved by studied treatments in both seasons of study.
Generally, it could be concluded that all investigated treatments under study resulted in a positive and significant effect, since both (OMF + Ni + En + Ph) and (OMF+Ni +En) were the best and the most effective treatments for increasing and improving all studied vegetative and fruiting characteristics of "Canino" apricot trees.