THE EFFECT OF SPRAYING WITH DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF KELPMAX SEAWEED EXTRACT ON THE GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF THE YIELD OF TWO BARLEY VARIETIES (HORDEUM VULGARE L.)
Keywords:
Kelpmax, Seaweed Extract, Foliar Application, Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.), Grain Chemical CompositionAbstract
This study was conducted to determine the effect of foliar spraying with different concentrations of the Kelpmax seaweed extract on the growth and chemical composition of two barley varieties (Hordeum vulgare L.), namely Al-Jazira 1 and Rayhan, under greenhouse conditions. The plants were sprayed with three concentrations of the extract (0.0, 2.5, and 5) mL L⁻¹ at three growth stages. The results showed that spraying with the Kelpmax seaweed extract had significant effects on a number of growth traits and the chemical composition of the yield. The 5 ml/L concentration significantly increased plant height, leaf area, and chlorophyll concentrations (a and b), as well as the concentrations of carbohydrates, protein, and the minerals calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium in the grains compared to the control treatment. In contrast, the 2.5 mL/L concentration did not show a significant effect on plant height compared to the control treatment. No significant differences were observed between the 2.5 and 5 mL/L concentrations in terms of protein and sodium concentrations. The results also showed significant differences between the two varieties: the Rayhan variety outperformed the Al-Jazira 1 variety in plant height and the concentrations of chlorophyll, carbohydrates, protein, and sodium, while the Al-Jazira 1 variety significantly outperformed the Rayhan variety in leaf area and potassium concentration. The results also indicate that the use of Kelpmax extract, particularly at a concentration of 5 mL/L, contributes to improving the growth, physiological status, and chemical composition of barley grains, with the response varying depending on the variety.
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