Influence of plant growth stimulants on nutrients concentration and yield responses of corn (Zea mays)

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of different plant growth stimulants on yield and yield components of corn (Zea mays L), a greenhouse experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement based on a completely randomized design. The studied treatments (T) were in 8 levels: (T0, control, T1, foliar application of amino acid, T2, foliar application of seaweed, T3, fertigation of humic acid, T4, foliar application of fulvic acid, T5, foliar application of humic acid, T6, inoculation of plant growth-promoting bacteria, T7, foliar application of humic acid+ seaweed+ amino acid). Also, fertilizers (F) were applied in 3 levels (F0, control, F1, 75 kg, F2, 100 kg). The results showed that the studied factors significantly affected the yield and chemical composition of the plant. The highest average of grain number per rows (39.89) happened in F2+T0. The highest average of 100-grain weight (23.31 g) and ear number (8) were respectively belonged to F1+T1 and F2+T2. The highest average of Zn (52.33 mg kg-1) concentration was measured under F2+ T5. Under the application of F1+ T3 the highest average of catalase (4.54 mg/Protein) was measured but the highest superoxide dismutase (105.89 mg/Protein) happened in the control treatment. Generally, application of bio-stimulants helps to increase the yield and yield components of corn by affecting the nutrients availability and plant enzymes.

Keywords

• Bio-stimulants
• Corn
• Nutrients availability
• Plant enzymes