Effect of Organic Fertilization with Moringa Oleifera Seeds Cake and Compost on Storability of Valencia Orange Fruits

This study was carried out during two successive seasons 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 at the experimental research station of National Research Centre at Nubaria, El Behera governorate, Egypt. The work aimed to test the effect of moringa seeds cake and compost on Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) fruit quality during cold storage. Treatments included; moringa seed cake 100% (3 tons/fed), compost 100% (3 tons/fed), 1 moringa seed cake: 1 compost, 1 moringa seed cake: 2 compost, 2 moringa seed cake: 1 compost and control without moringa seed cake or compost. Results showed that, application of Valencia orange trees by moringa seeds cake at 100% or in combination with compost at 2:1 ratio significantly improved fruit quality at the harvest. In addition, these treatments significantly reduced weight loss percentage and firmness deterioration of fruits during storage. Moreover, delayed the changes of fruit weight loss percentage, color values (L* and h degrees), firmness, juice percentage, TSS: TA ratio, ascorbic acid and carotene content. Therefore, it could be recommended that fertilizing with moringa seeds cake as a natural organic fertilizer source for substitution of some chemical fertilizers, besides its positive role in improving the fruit quality at the harvest and during storage period.