EFFECT OF SOIL SALINITY ON SOME PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PARAMETERS OF LEMON (Citrus limon Burm ) FRUITS .

Abstract

This study was conducted in an orchard at Baquba City \ Diyala Province؛during the growing season 2002 -2003 to determine the effect of soil salinity level on some physical and chemical characters of Lemon fruits ( Mahali ) cultivar, 16 years old budded on Sour Orange rootstock grown under date – palm trees. Trees were selected from three sites with different salinity levels ( 1.67, 3.11, and 6.42 ds.m-1 respectively) . The study showed that fruit and juice mean weight decreased significantly with increasing of soil salinity. While this salinity caused an increase in fruits total soluble solids , and fruits total acidity , while it was not so for fruits juice percentage .