Compost and Biostimulants versus Mineral Nitrogen on Productivity and Grain Quality of Two Wheat Cultivars

Abstract

To reduce the environmental pollution, this study was designed to test the effect of using compost and biostimulants as total or partial replacement for mineral nitrogen on productivity and grain quality of two wheat cultivars. Two field experiments were conducted in the Desert Experimental Station, Cairo University located at Wadi El-Natroon, Egypt during two successive seasons (2016/2017 and 2017/2018). A split-split-plot design in a randomized complete block arrangement was used. Four fertilizer treatments (100% mineral nitrogen as control, 100% compost, 75% compost + 25% mineral nitrogen and 50% compost + 50% mineral nitrogen). Four levels of biostimulants foliar applications (control, 0.75 L ha−1, 1.13 L ha−1 and 1.5 L ha−1). Treatments were tested on two wheat cultivars (Egyptian cultivar, Gemmiza-10 and Nigerian cultivar, LacriWhit-4). Results indicated that, the treatment of 50% compost + 50% mineral nitrogen fertilizer along with 1.5 L ha−1 of biostimulants (VIUSID® agro) significantly increased the grain yield of both wheat cultivars, LacriWhit-4 and Gemmiza-10 (4.44- and 4.53-ton ha−1, respectively). The increase of grain yield was 0.9- and 1.36-ton ha−1, respectively. The treatment of 100% compost significantly increased protein, crude fiber, total sugars, Mg and Mn contents in grain while the treatment of 100% mineral nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased ash, total phenols, P and Ca contents in grain. Replacing nitrogen fertilization with compost significantly increased ether extract and carbohydrates content of the Nigerian cultivar grains while N, K and Fe contents were increased in the grains of both tested cultivars. The foliar application of biostimulants (VIUSID® agro) at different levels significantly increased protein, carbohydrates, total sugars, P, K, Ca, Cu and Zn contents. It can be concluded that replacing mineral nitrogen fertilizer with a combination of compost and mineral nitrogen (50% compost + 50% mineral nitrogen) along with 1.5 L ha−1 of biostimulants (VIUSID® agro) is recommended for the enhancement of productivity and grain quality of wheat while reducing environmental pollution.

Impact of Planting Date and Physiological Activator (Appetizer) Application on Quality and Quantity of Wheat Grains (Triticum aestivum.L)

“…The data of Table 12 indicated that there was a significant decrease in the percentage of the average carbohydrate content when the treatment in which the physiological stimulant was not sprayed amounted to 70.35%.The evidence also recorded the highest percentage of average carbohydrate content when spraying with physiological activator in the elongation and booting stage, which amounted to 77.03%. The content of chlorophyll, which led to its contribution to the construction of vegetable growth that work with high efficiency for the metabolism process, which was positively reflected in the stage of filling the grains, where it increased the accumulation of nutrients such as starch in the grain area in addition to the presence of micro-nutrients such as zinc and manganese.This is in agreement with [66], who showed that the increase in the content of carbohydrates and amylose in the potato crop treated with seaweed extract to the presence of micro nutrients such as zinc and manganese in seaweed extract with growth regulators [67], also indicated that the use of biostimulating fertilizers increases the carbohydrate content in grains because it contains substances such as amino acids, potassium phosphate, calcium pantothenate, zinc sulfate and ascorbic acid. As explained by [68], when using seaweed fertilizers with other fertilizers, it increases the starch content in sweet corn and due the reason for this to the nutrients present in the extract such as Cu, Mn and Zn and their important role in the metabolism process.…”

Evaluation of healthy pan bread enriched with sesame, peanut and sun flower seeds

“…Our results agreed with these of Saly-Saleh [52] who studied that wheat flour had low values in protein, fat and fiber compared with composite wheat. And nearly with Abbas et al [53] who reported genotypes wheat carbohydrates ranged from 84.97% to 89.14%, fat content from 0.58% to 2.57% and fiber from 1.18% to 2.91%. On the other hand, our results similar with these of Dossa et al [54] who found that the sesame seeds oil 53.0% and protein content 20.4%.…”

The efficacy of banana compost as biofertilizer on barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants grown on soil polluted with cadmium.

“…Thereby, a modification in physical and chemical characteristics of soil, organic matter, and different nutrients resulted in increasing growth and yield, this could improve the contents of osmoprotectants in the plant cells [71,72]. Besides, the application of bio-fertilizers like compost, it was found to increase the availability of both macro-and micronutrients to plants, where it plays an important role in metabolic activities including proteins and sugars synthesis [73]. However, the amount of proline and MDA accumulation was significantly reduced, indicating that compost treatments can reduce the severity of Cd-induced osmotic imbalance in barley plants.…”