Document Type : Research articles.
Author
Dep. of Agric. Botany, Fac. of Agric. Fayoum, Univ., Egypt
Abstract
Two field experiments were carried out during the two
successive seasons of 2005 and 2006 to investigate the effect of foliar
application of citrine (a compound fertilizer containing citric acid
with some micronutrients) on growth, yield and some chemical
constituents of maize (Zea mays L.) plants. The plants were grown in
clay soil, and foliar sprayed with eleven treatments (0, 0.05, 0.1,
0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45 and 0.5%) of combined fertilizer
(citrine) which contains (15% citric acid, 2% Fe, 2% Mn and 2% Zn).
Generally, it was found that all studied vegetative growth parameters
(i.e. plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves /plant, dry weight
of leaves) as well as grain yield /fed. and some of their components
(i.e. ear length, ear diameter, number of rows/ear, number of
grains/row, grain weight/ear, weight of 100 grain and ear
weight/plant) and some chemical constituents of leaves (chlorophyll
a, b, total caroteniods, anthocyanin, total carbohydrates, total and
reducing sugars, total free amino acids, total indoles, nitrogen,
phosphorous and potassium) and grain protein %, were increased
with application of the different treatments. The maximum values
were obtained from the treatment of 0.3%. On the contrary citrine
treatments decreased reducing sugars and free phenol in leaves as
compared to the control. The best results were obtained by the
application of citrine treatment at 0.3%. Hence, it can recommend to
use citrine fertilizers as foliar application at the rate of 0.3% for
improving growth, yield and chemical constituents of maize plants.
Keywords
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