Mitigating salinity stress in Zea mays L. through combined foliar applications of amino acids and marine algal extracts

Enas Abdul-Raheem AL-Wagaa, Ghuffran Ali Hussein, Osama Qasim Abdulameer

Abstract


The present study assessed the effects of foliar-applied amino acids and seaweed extracts, along with spray frequency, on maize growth and yield to evaluate their potential in enhancing productivity under field conditions. The results revealed that foliar nutrient treatments significantly improved plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and dry matter accumulation. Among the treatments, seaweed extract + amino acids at 100%, consistently produced the highest values, with increases of 11.97% in plant height, 16.36% in leaf area, 27.01% in chlorophyll content, and 29.90% in dry weight compared to the control. Yield components were also markedly enhanced, as this treatment increased ear length by 61.44%, grains per ear by 47.03%, and 100-grain weight by 20.96%. Consequently, grain yield reached 6.04 t ha-1, representing a 70.04% increase over the control (3.56 t ha-1). Spray frequency significantly influenced most parameters, with two sprays (S2) outperforming a single spray (S1). S2 increased plant height, chlorophyll content, grains per ear, 100-grain weight, and grain yield by 5.90%, 6.70%, 12.29%, 5.47%, and 5.47%, respectively. Although most interaction effects were statistically non-significant, combinations such as T5 × S2 showed the highest numerical improvements across traits. The observed enhancements can be attributed to improved nutrient availability, hormonal regulation, and increased photosynthetic efficiency resulting from amino acids and seaweed extracts. In conclusion, foliar application of combined amino acids and seaweed extracts, particularly at higher concentrations and with repeated spraying, is an effective strategy to improve maize growth and yield.


Keywords


Salinity stress, Zea mays, Amino acids, Seaweed extracts, Foliar application

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.33804/pp.010.02.6113

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