EFFECT OF FOLIAR SPRAY WITH SEAWEEDS EXTRACT ON GROWTH , YIELD AND SEED VIGOUR OF BREAD WHEAT CULTIVARS

Abstract

Two factorial experiments were conducted .The first one was field experimental which was carried out at the one of  agricultural farms in Thi-Qar governorate – Nassiriyah district during the winter seasons of 2014 - 2015 and 2015 - 2016  .The second was carried out in the laboratories of Agriculture and Marshes Colle. , Univ. of Thi-Qar  . The aim was to investigate the effect of foliar application of seaweed extract on growth , yield and seeds vigour of four bread wheat cultivars . The design of field experiment was (RCBD) in factorial experiments with three replications in two factors .The first factor included four wheat cultivars ( Bohooth -22, Al-tahadi , IPA – 99 and Al-Rasheed ) . The second factor included foliar application by two seaweed extract concentrations (2 and 4) ml L^-1 in addition to control treatment (without seeweed extract) . The design of Lab. experiment was (RCD) in factorial experiments with four replications in two factors. The results of field experiment showed that IPA – 99 cultivar gave highest averages of flag leaf area (42.17 and 44.81) cm² , tillers number (435.42 and 443.61) tillers m^-2, spikes number (387.05 and 392.33) spike m^-2 , 1000 grain weight (38.75 and 40.56) gm and grain yield (4.67 and 4.75) tan ha^-1 in both season, respectively . Wheat plants that sprayed with seaweed extract concentration 4 ml.L^-1 gave highest averages of flag leaf area (40.25 and 43.34) cm² , spikes number (384.07 and 387.91) spike m^-2 , 1000 grain weight (38.32 and 39.78) gm and grain yield (4.50 and 4.64) tan ha^-1 in both season, respectively. The plants of IPA – 99 cultivar which sprayed  with seaweed extract concentration 4 ml L^-1 gave highest averages of flag leaf area (44.25 and 47.12) cm² , spikes number (393.32 and 398.95) spike m^-2 , 1000 grain weight (40.11 and 42.98) gm and grain yield (4.91 and 4.97) tan ha^-1 in both season, respectively. The results of  Lab. experiment showed that the seeds produced from IPA – 99 cultivar gave highest germination speed index (28.85 and 30.60) ,  standard germination percentage (92.56 and 93.19)% and lower mean of germination time mean ( 5.26 and 4.99 ) day in both season, respectively. The seeds produced from wheat plants that sprayed with seaweed extract concentration 4 ml L^-1 gave highest averages of germination speed index (30.04 and 31.66) ,  standard germination percentage (93.18 and 93.53)% and lower mean of germination time mean ( 5.15 and 4.87 ) day in both season, respectively . It can be conclude the superiority of the plants of IPA – 99 cultivar which sprayed with seaweed extract concentration 4 ml L^-1 .