Abstract:
Foliar sprays application is
an important crop management strategy,
which could help to maximize yield and
other beneficial substances. Therefore, a
field experiment was conducted at
Kafrelsheikh University research farm,
Egypt, to study the effect of stimulating
compounds (control, salicylic acid and
ascobien) and nitrogen levels (0, 57.5, 115,
172.5 and 230 kg N ha-1) on yield and
nitrogen utilization efficiency of wheat.
Results indicated that spraying of ascobien
and increasing nitrogen level had significant
effect on yield traits. Interaction between
stimulating compounds and nitrogen were
achieved progressive increases in all yield
traits, furthermore, the magnitude of
increments was much more pronounced in
response to salicylic acid and control
treatments in both seasons. It was observed
no statistically significant difference
between 172.5 and 230 kg N ha-1 in both
seasons. A significant interactive effect
were observed on grain N uptake, whole
plant N uptake, nitrogen harvest index
(NHI), nitrogen utilization efficiency
(NUtE) and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE)
by using foliar spraying combined with N
fertilizer. Grain N uptake and whole plant N
uptake were closely correlated with nitrogen
under stimulating compounds, whereas
ascobien with 172.5 kg N ha-1 was more
effective than salicylic acid in both seasons.
Interestingly, foliar spraying of ascobien
and N level of 172.5 kg ha-1 was the optimal
and could be a useful to improve the
efficiency of N-fertilizer and it can be saved
57.5 kg N ha-1. Consequently, could be the
key to reduce the need for chemical
fertilizers and decrease the cost of
production.
