FOLIAR APPLICATION OF ASCORBIC ACID, MAGNESIUM AND NICKEL TO LENTIL GROWN IN NEWLY RECLAIMED SANDY SOILS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

A 2-year field study was conducted at Ismailia Agricultural Resea-rch Station during two growing seasons 1994/95 and 1995/96 to elucidate the response of lentil plants to foliar applications of magenesium sulphate (MS) at concentrations of 2 and 4%, ascorbic acid (AA) 500 ppm, and nickel sulphate (NS) at 25 ppm as well as the combination of AA and NS . The obtained results revealed that during the two seasons, foliar applciation of AA induced significant increase in number of pods/plant, while pod dry weight, and seed and straw yields/plant were significantly increased by the application of MS at the high rate (4%). AA alone or combined with NS gave the highest values. However, seed yield/feddan was significartly increased by NS alone or combined with AA, one sea-son only. The low concentration of MS exhibited significant increase in seed contents of P and K. Seed protein content as well as micronutrient contents (Fe, Zn and Mn) were insignificantly affected by the investigated treatments. 

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