The Impact of Different Concentrations of Seaweed Extract on Growth and Yield of Sprouted Barley Cultivars

Abstract

A diversity of substantial disruptions in the physiological systems of the barly crop (Hordeum vulgare L.) result from some micro-elements and nutrients deficiency.The foliar application of bio-stimulants improves the quality of barly growth and the production of grains for end-use purposes. The study was conducted during the growing season of October 2023 on a private farm in the Al-Suwaira district of Wasit Governorate using a sprouting apparatus. The research aimed to determine the optimal seaweed extract concentration, the best barley cultivar, and the most effective combination of cultivar and seaweed extract for enhancing barley sprout growth. The study involved sprouting barley grain cultivars in plastic trays with dimensions of 30x20 cm, divided into four sections representing the experimental units. The experiment included two factors: the first factor was the concentrations of seaweed extract (0, 2, 3, 4 g L-1), and the second factor was the barley cultivars (IPA 265, IPA 99, Buhooth 244, and Local). The experiment used a factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replicates. The results showed that the 3 g L-1 concentration outperformed in the following traits: plant height, root length, fresh weight, dry weight, nitrogen percentage, protein percentage, and fiber percentage. The values were 17.53 cm, 5.98 cm, 11.14 kg m-2, 1.97 kg m-2, 0.40%, 2.27%, and 8.59%, respectively. From these results, we conclude that spraying barley crops in the sprouting apparatus with a 3 g L-1 concentration of seaweed extract is both a nutritious and safe method. Furthermore, more research should be done considering different levels of concentration and different strategic crops.