Effects of Various Organic Fertilizer Sources and External Applications of Potassium Fulvate and Potassium Citrate on the Yield and Quality of Two Barley Varieties Grown under Salt Affected Soil

Abstract

The expansion of barley cultivation in Egypt is essential due to its strategic importance, particularly under saline conditions where the studied soil has an electrical conductivity (EC) value of 7.3 dSm -1 .To investigate optimal cultivation practices, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of two barley varieties (Giza 123 and Giza 132) and the impact of different organic fertilizers (chicken manure (ChM), farmyard manure (FYM), and compost) along with foliar applications of potassium fulvate and potassium citrate. Various growth and yield parameters were measured, including plant height, fresh and dry weights, leaf area, chlorophyll content, carotene content, grain yield, straw yield, biological yield, and grain nutrient content (N, P, K). Results demonstrated that the Giza 123 variety outperformed Giza 132 in all measured parameters. Among the organic fertilizers, compost proved to be the most effective, followed by ChM and FYM. Foliar application of potassium fulvate resulted in the highest values for all studied parameters, with potassium citrate being the next most effective, surpassing the control (tap water). The combination of sowing Giza 123, fertilizing with compost, and spraying with potassium fulvate yielded the best overall results. The future outlook suggests focusing on the Giza 123 variety and enhancing organic fertilization practices with compost and potassium fulvate application to improve barley yield and quality under salinity stress. Recommendations include further research into optimizing fertilizer combinations and application methods to sustain and increase barley production in saline environments.