Enhancement of Growth and Yield Quality of Onion Plant via Foliar Application of Bio-Stimulants Under Different Nitrogen Sources

Abstract

There are environmental hazards of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, however, there is a general tendency to raise the yield and quality of strategic crops in Egypt i.e., onion plant. Also, a little is known about the joint effects of different nitrogen sources as soil addition plus foliar spraying with bio-stimulants on onion plants. Thus, this research paper aims to assess the possibility of using compost as a partial substitute for synthetic nitrogen fertilizer with onion plants sprayed with some bio stimulants. During two successive seasons (2020/2021 and 2021/2022), a field trial was performed aiming to evaluate the effect of nitrogen recommended dose (NRD) via different nitrogen sources i.e., plant compost (2.0 %N), ammonium sulphate (21.0%N), urea (46.5%N) and ammonium nitrate (33.5%N) and some bio stimulates on onion plant and some soil properties. The nitrogen treatments [N1:40% of NRD as plant compost +20% of NRD as ammonium sulphate + 20% of NRD as urea+20% of NRD as ammonium nitrate, N2:100% of NRD as ammonium sulphate, N3:100% of NRD as urea and N4:100% of NRD as ammonium nitrate] represented the main plots, while foliar application of bio-stimulants represented the sub main plots, where the foliar application treatments were F1: without (control), F2: liquorice extract (7.50 gL-1); F3: garlic extract (350.0 ml L-1) and F4: yeast extract (7.5 gL-1).The findings indicate that onion plants grown under N1 treatment had growth, yield and quality traits better than the corresponding onion plants grown under other nitrogen treatments, where N2 treatment came in the second order and N3 treatment came in the third order, while N4 treatment came in the last order. Regarding foliar application, the plants sprayed with garlic extract (F3) had the highest values of studied traits followed by that sprayed with liquorice extract (F2) then that spayed with yeast extract (F4) and lately that grown without bio stimulants (F1). Generally, the best performance of onion plants was recorded under N fertilization of 40% of NRD as plant compost + 20 % of NRD as ammonium sulphate + 20 % of NRD as urea+ 20 % of NRD as ammonium nitrate and spraying, simultaneously, with garlic extract. Also, all studied soil properties like soil EC, pH, Om and available N differed due to all studied treatments. Thus, it can be confirmed the possibility of using plant compost as a partial substitute for mineral N fertilizer with onion plants sprayed with some bio stimulants.

Effect of some Treatments Stimulating Growth and Yield on Pea Plants Grown under High Temperature Conditions

“…Also, K plays a crucial role in regulating osmotic potential in pea plant cells, maintaining turgor pressure, and facilitating water movement within the plant. This can help plants cope with high-temperature stress and optimize their physiological functions (El-Sherpiny et al, 2022). On the other hand, it is involved in the activation of numerous enzymes, which are essential for metabolic processes.…”

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

“…Fulvic acids in potassium fulvate enhance the absorption of nutrients and improve plant resilience under stress conditions, including salinity. Potassium citrate also provided significant benefits, likely due to its role in osmotic adjustment and ion balance in plants under salinity stress (El-Sherpiny et al 2022;Soliman et al 2022;EL-Metwally et al 2023).…”

“…Its application has been associated with increased chlorophyll content, better root development, and higher overall plant vigor. Potassium citrate, a water-soluble form of potassium, facilitates rapid absorption and utilization by plants, leading to improved physiological functions and stress tolerance (El-Sherpiny et al 2022;Soliman et al 2022;EL-Metwally et al 2023).…”

Effect of Seaweed Extract and Gibberellic Acid on Growth and Productivity of Globe Artichoke

“…Seaweed extracts are used to increase nutritional status, vegetative development, yield, and fruit quality in some plants. They contain a wide range of macronutrient and micronutrient nutrients as well as organic components such as growth hormones, amino acids, vitamins, betaines, cytokinins, and sterols (Abd El-Moniem and Abd-Allah, 2008;Khan et al, 2009;Spinelli et al, 2010 andEl-Sherpiny et al,2022). In general, Calvo et al (2014) in agriculture, reported that seaweed extracts can cause changes in physiological/biochemical processes related to nutrient intake and plant growth.…”