Effect of Surface Irrigation Systems and Growth Stimulants on Yield and Quality of Wheat

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt, to study the effect of different surface irrigation systems (basin irrigation, bed irrigation and gated pipes) and foliar application of some growth stimulants (control, amino acids, humic acid, compost tea, seaweed extract and yeast extract) on yield and grain quality of bread wheat (Giza 171) during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 seasons. Irrigation systems significantly affected on most characters studied. Using gated pipes was superior to the other irrigation systems in yield and its components (number of spikes/ m 2 , number of grains/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield /fed and straw and biological yields/fed) and grain quality (protein, wet and dry gluten %) especially basin irrigation which registered the lowest ones. However, moisture, ash, fats and fiber percents in grains did not significantly affect by different irrigation systems. Foliar application of yeast extract or seaweed extract exhibited superiority in all yield and its components as well as grain quality (protein, wet and dry gluten %) in comparison with other tested growth stimulants especially control. Treated plants with compost tea and untreated plants recorded the highest carbohydrates in grains. However, moisture, ash, fats and fiber percents in grains did not significantly affect by various growth stimulants. The interaction between irrigation systems and growth stimulants was found to be significant for most characters studied. Significant increases in most effective yield and grain quality traits were detected by irrigated plants with gated pipes and treated with yeast extract or seaweed extract. It could be concluded that irrigated plants with gated pipes and treated with yeast extract was the best combination treatment for maximizing grain yield and its quality under similar environmental conditions of the experiment site.