Effect of Foliar Application of Organic and Chemical Fertilizers on Yield, Yield Components, Nutrient Uptake, Nutrient Availability, and Anatomical Traits in Three Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Cultivars Grown under Sandy Soil Conditions

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted at Ismailia Agricultural Research Station during the winter seasons of 2022 and 2023 to investigate the effects of various foliar applications on different flax cultivars about yield, nutrient uptake, and anatomical traits in sandy soil. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design with four replications, with main plots consisting of three cultivars: Giza-12, Sakha-6, and Giza-11. Eight foliar spray treatments were applied as sub-plots: control(T1); K-Silicates(T2), K-humates(T3), gibberellin(T4), gibberellin+K-humates(T5), calcium sulphate(T6), calcium sulphate+K-humates(T7) and Humic(T8). Sprinkler irrigation was utilized throughout the experiments. Significant differences were observed in the means of the flax cultivars under study, with notable increases compared to control group for various growth traits and yield components. Sakha-6 the significantest outperformed cultivars, achieving the highest straw yield and fiber yield with treatment (T3). Giza-12 excelled in seed yield and total fiber under treatments(T5 andT7), while Giza-11 recorded the highest seed oil% and oil yield when treated with (T5), compared to Giza-12, which was treated with water(T1). In terms of nutrient uptake, Giza-11 exhibited the highest (N) and (K) uptake in seeds under treatment(T5), whereas Sakha-6 had the highest (P) uptake under the same treatment. For straw uptake, Sakha-6 also recorded the highest N and P uptake under treatment(T3). Giza-11 and Giza-12 under treatment(T7) recorded the highest available N and P, while available K was significantly affected in the same cultivars under(T3). The best anatomical traits were obtained from Giza-11 with treatment(T7) and Sakha-6 with treatment(T3). Treatments(T7 andT3) significantly increased cell wall thickness.