Effect of Soil Properties on the Physical and Nutritional Content of Syzygium Fruits

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of Soil pH, porosity, bulk and particle density, magnesium, manganese, sodium, copper, zinc, and titaniumonthe physicochemical and nutritional content of Syzygium cuminifruits. Multistage sampling was used to select the counties, identify, sample and collect fruit trees. Analysis was done using 40 soil andfruitsamples each per countyusing standard methodologies.Fruit parameters were evaluated by measuring juice pH, total soluble solids, titratable acids, vitamin C, crude fat and fiber, proteins, fruit maturity, carbohydrates, energy, sodium, magnesium, manganese, calcium, iron, copper, and zinc. Results showed that, Syzygium fruits preferred asoil pH from 5.3 to 6.9 which was significantly different between the two counties. Titanium was significantlyhigh in Kwale soil samplesgiving 57.53±8.37 mg/kg. Particle density caused an increase in bulk density, which in turn increased fruit weight, pH, and ash content. Proteins had a weak positive correlation with soil magnesium, 0.11 and very strongly correlated with carbohydrates, 0.99. Mature fruits had significantly higher proteinand carbohydrate contents of 2.96 and 36.1 mg/100g respectively. The physicochemical and nutritional content of Syzygiumcuminifruits were highly influenced by soil properties.