Yield Performance of Wheat under Various Sowing Dates and Nano and Biological Fertilization

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture (Saba Basha), Alexandria University, 21531 Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple food crop of global, regional, and national importance, particularly in Egypt, where it occupies a leading position in food security strategies.Two field experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of Saba Basha Agricultural Faculty, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt, during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 growing seasons to investigate the effect of nano-biofertilizer application and sowing date on productivity of wheat. Split plot design (SPD) was used for the experiment, with the three sowing dates dispersed among four replicates in the main plots, and Nano-biological fertilization in sub main plots.
The results revealed significant differences due to both sowing date and fertilizer type across the two seasons. Early sowing on November 15 significantly improved plant height, spike length, number of spikes/m², grain number per spike, and overall yield components compared to later sowing dates. The combined application of nano NPK and biofertilizer led to superior performance in most traits due to enhanced nutrient availability, improved microbial activity, and better physiological responses. A significant interaction between sowing dates and fertilization treatments was observed, indicating the importance of integrating optimized sowing date with efficient nutrient management. Under Alexandria's environmental conditions, it is recommended to sow wheat in mid-November and apply a combination of nano and biofertilizers to maximize growth and yield. This integrated approach contributes to sustainable wheat production under climate variability and soil fertility challenges.

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