The Effect of Irrigation Intervals and Foliar Spraying With Proline and The Amino Acid Proline On Some Yield Traits of Yellow Corn
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51699/wjau.v4i2.667Keywords:
Zea mays L., Irrigation Frequency, potassium sulfate, proline, foliar applicationAbstract
This experiment was conducted in an agricultural field in Kirkuk Governorate, Iraq, on a silty loam soil to evaluate the effect of different irrigation intervals (4, 8, 12, and 16 days) and foliar application of various concentrations of potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄; 41.5% K⁺) (0, 2500, and 5000 mg/L) and proline (0, 100, and 200 mg/L) on some morphological and physiological traits of maize (Zea mays L.) cv. 'Sajunto'. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split-plot arrangement was used. The aforementioned concentrations were sprayed 30 days after germination, with a second spray 30 days after the first. The results indicated a significant decrease in plant height, shoot dry weight, grain carbohydrate percentage, 500-grain weight, and biological yield with increased irrigation intervals. Foliar application of 5000 mg/L potassium sulfate showed significant superiority in all studied growth and yield traits. Spraying with 200 mg/L proline significantly increased shoot dry weight, grain carbohydrate content, and 500-grain weight, while 100 mg/L proline significantly increased plant height and biological yield. Regarding the interaction between irrigation intervals and potassium sulfate concentrations, the 4-day irrigation interval combined with 5000 mg/L potassium sulfate resulted in the highest significant values for all studied traits compared to other treatments. The interaction between 5000 mg/L potassium sulfate and 200 mg/L proline significantly increased all studied traits, except for plant height, which was highest with 5000 mg/L potassium sulfate and 100 mg/L proline. Furthermore, the interaction of a 4-day irrigation interval with 200 mg/L proline led to a significant increase in most studied traits. The three-way interaction of a 4-day irrigation interval, 5000 mg/L potassium sulfate, and 200 mg/L proline significantly increased all studied traits, except for 500-grain weight, which was highest with a 4-day irrigation interval, 5000 mg/L potassium sulfate, and 100 mg/L proline.
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