Analysis of Yield Indicators of Eastern Persimmon (Diospyros kaki L. f.) Varieties Grown in the Territory of the Sheki-Zagatala Region of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The article analyzes phenological observations and yield indicators of eastern persimmon varieties cultivated in the Sheki-Zagatala region of the Azerbaijan Republic. The existing 10 varieties of eastern persimmon (Diospyros kaki L. f.) were studied: Hiakume, Guyboshi, Tanenashi, Tamopan, Sidles, Amon-kaki, Geili, Tranta-kaki, Khachia and Kaki-mela. The beginning of the growing season for persimmon depends on the weather conditions of the year, the swelling of shoots is in early April (04/10) at an average air temperature of 8.3–9.3°C, and the opening of shoots is at the end of April (04/21) at an average daily temperature of 12.6–13°C. Flowering by variety began earliest on May 15 for the Hiakume variety and ended on May 30 for the Sidles variety; the flowering period lasted approximately 15 days. The earliest start of fruit ripening was observed in the Hiakume variety on October 12, and the latest in the Khachia variety - on October 20. The fruit ripening period lasted from October 12 to October 30. The earliest leaf fall began at the beginning of May for the variety Tamopan (05.11) and ended at the end of November for the variety Amon-khaki (28.11). The duration of the growing season ranged from 216-227 days. The highest yield was 268.5 kg per tree for the Tamopan variety, and the lowest was 71.0 kg for the Khachia variety. The weight of 1 persimmon fruit for the Tamopan variety was 350 g, for the Geili variety — 110 g. The number of fruits on the tree for the Geili variety was 2730 pcs., for the Sidles variety — 140 pcs. In the Sheki-Zagatala region, the main part of the areas for growing and producing eastern persimmons is in the Belokan and Zagatala regions, and over the years there has been an increase in these areas.