Yield and Macronutrient Accumulation in Grain of Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare L.) as Affected by Biostimulant Application

Abstract

Plant growth and development, resistance to stress, nutrient uptake and yield can be supported by the use of biostimulants. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the seaweed biostimulant Kelpak and its combined application with the preparation Lithovit on yield components, grain yield and accumulation of macroelements in spring wheat grain. The study was based on field experiments located in Poland, (53°13’N; 17°51’E), conducted in 2010-2011 on a typical Alfisol (USDA). In the one-factorial field experiment with the spring wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. vulgare) cultivar Katoda, we compared the effects of the application of the biostimulant Kelpak (seaweed extract) (T1) alone at a dose of 2 l ha-1, to a mixture of two preparations, Kelpak 1.5 l ha-1+Lithovit (finely milled limestone) 1.5 kg ha-1 (T2) with the control (without preparations) (T3). The study showed that foliar application of the biostimulant Kelpak at shooting increased spring wheat yield, but there was no additional increase in yield after its combined application with Lithovit. Application of the biostimulant Kelpak increased the number of generative tillers, and the combined application of prepared Kelpak and Lithovit had a favourable effect on the number of grains per ear. Application of biostimulant Kelpak and its mixture with Lithovit caused increased accumulation of N, P and K in grain.