Spraying Foliar Growth Promoters to Enhance Lentil Production Under Water Deficit Conditions
摘要
A field experiment was conducted to assess two plant growth promoters (200 mg/L of mono-potassium phosphate MKP, and 200 mg/L ammonium citrate AC) to improve two lentil varieties (Giza 29 and Sinai 1) grown under three deficit irrigation treatments (I1 = 4420, I2 = 3315 and I3 = 2210 m3/ha). Sinai 1 is known to be the most suitable cultivar for light soil, particularly under water deficit conditions. Lentil plants under irrigated treatment I2 showed an increased seed yield by 19.4% compared with I1 treatment. This result indicates that 1105 m3/ha of irrigation water could be saved if farmers applied this moderate irrigation rate instead of the traditional high rate. The spraying of MKP enhanced plant growth parameters and seed yield by 54.6% in comparison with the control. Additionally, AC treatment increased seed yield by 95.2% compared with MKP treatment. The study suggests the use of the Sinai 1 cultivar sprayed with ammonium citrate for regions under water stress conditions.