The role of biostimulants in increasing barley plant growth and yield under newly cultivated sandy soil

Abstract

Two field experiments were done at a private farm in Kalabsho and Zayian district, Dakhlia Egypt, throughout 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons, to evaluate the promotive role of chitosan (Chi, 250 and 500 mg/l) and/or sodium metasilicate (Si, 125 and 250 mg/l) foliar application on barley growth, yield, and some physiological attributes in newly reclaimed soil. Application of Si or Chi concentrations showed an improvement in plant growth as: plant height, tiller number per plant, flag leaf area and shoot dry weight; photosynthetic pigments; organic osmolytes; ion percentage, as well as yield and its quality in both growing seasons. Generally, the application of Si gave higher values in most cases than Chi application in the experimental year. It was concluded that application of 125 mg/l sodium metasilicate twice at 50 and 70 days from sowing is advantageous to improving plant growth and productivity under newly reclaimed soils.