FOLIAR FERTILIZATION ON WHEAT TO REDUCE SOIL APPLICATION OF NITROGENOUS FERTILIZER

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the research field of Crop Physiology and Ecology department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur during the period of November 2013 to April 2014 to find out the effect of foliar fertilization (Magic growth) on performance of wheat and to calculate how much urea can be saved by foliar fertilization without any yield reduction. The experiment was conducted in a split plot design with three replications. Two levels of foliar fertilization of magic growth (Fy: No foliar fertilization and F,:Foliar fertilization with magic growth) were placed in the main plots as main plot treatments whereas four nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 50, 75 and 100% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer) were placed randomly in the sub plots as sub plot treatments. Foliar fertilization with magic growth showed higher plant height, tillers plant’, leaves plant’', plant dry weight at different days after sowing and flag leaf SPAD value at 85 days after sowing compared to no foliar fertilization treatment. All the parameters were also increased with the increment of nitrogen level. Foliar fertilization and increasing nitrogen fertilizer levels significantly influenced the grain yield of wheat but the increment of grain yield with the increment of nitrogen levels were not similar both in no foliar fertilization treatment (Fo) and foliar fertilization treatment (Ff). Increased grain yield due to different treatment combinations was mainly contributed by increasing spikes m” and grains spike’! in the respective treatment combinations. Foliar fertilization with magic growth along with 75% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer i.e., F{\N7; provided more or less equal grain yield to that provided by recommended nitrogen fertilizer treatment only i. ¢. I Njoo. In that case, 25% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer can be saved without considerable yield reduction. Foliar fertilization along with recommended nitrogen fertilizer (F\Njo9) increased 14.03% grain yield compared to recommended practice (F oN 199).