The Effect of Nano Spraying and Soil Addition of Potassium On the Yield and Grain Quality of Wheat

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in the El-Gemmeiza Agricultural Research Station in the Gharbeya Governorate, Egypt, over the winter seasons of 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. This study examined the effects of Nano potassium as foliar application (0 and 40 ppm) and four levels of potassium (0, 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended rate RR equals 00, 23.70, 35.56, and 47.43 kg K /ha) in the form of potassium sulphate on plant growth, leaf chlorophyll, productivity, and grain quality of wheat cultivar Giza 171 in clay soil. For these treatments, a split-plot design was employed, with Nano potassium concentrations as foliar spray concentrations in the main plot and K levels in the sub-plot. Spraying wheat plants with Nano-K at 40 ppm gave the highest values of leaf pigments, 100 grain weight, grain
and straw yield, N, P and K uptake by grain and straw, total protein and total carbohydrates in grain as compared to unsprayed plants. Fertilizing wheat plants with K at 100 % of RR (47.43 kg /ha) produced the highest concentrations of leaf pigments, plant height and yield components, N, P and K concentrations and their uptake in grain and straw as well as available K in soil after harvesting wheat
plants. The interaction between foliar spray of wheat plants which grown in clay soil twice after 30 and 60 days from sowing with Nano-K at 40 ppm and soil application of K at 100 % of RR (47.43 kg /ha) increased shoot dry matter percentage , leaf pigments, plant height, 100 grain weight, grain yield and straw yield, N, P and K uptake by grain and straw, total protein and total carbohydrates in grain as well as available K in soil after harvesting , followed by foliar spray with water ( control) and K at 100% RR ( 47.43 kg/ ha).