Potentiality of Soil Mulch and Sorghum Extract to Reduce the Biotic Stress of Weeds with Enhancing Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Maize Crop

Two field trials were conducted in 2018 and 2019 to develop practical and economically efficient weed control programs in corn. The experiment included six treatments (cowpea, rice straw, sorghum extract, hoeing, foramsulfuron herbicide and weedy check). The treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates. Findings showed that reduction in total weed number was evident with application of hoeing, cowpea and rice straw in 2018 and 2019 seasons, in addition to foramsulfuron herbicide and sorghum extract in 2019. Cowpea, hoeing, foramsulfuron herbicide and rice straw recorded higher reduction in dry biomass of grassy weeds in both seasons. Reductions in N, P and K uptake by weeds because of rice straw and cowpea treatments were similar to hoeing treatment in both seasons. The increases in ear grain weight and grain yield ha^?1 due to cowpea and hoeing treatments were similar to rice straw one. In 2019 season, cowpea treatment was the superior practice for improving N, P and K uptake of maize, significantly leveling hoeing for K uptake. The values of gross returns and benefit/cost ratio of cowpea and sorghum extract, respectively, were higher than rice straw application. In conclusion, cowpea as a live mulch achieved acceptable weed control in maize by reducing weeds growth and lowering their ability to deplete the soil nutrients. Also, cowpea treatment improves growth and yield of maize with better utilization of nutrients. Thus, cowpea could be exploited as an eco-friendly method of weed management programs in maize cultivation.

     

Sunflower Response to Application of L-Ascorbate Under Thermal Stress Associated with Different Sowing Dates

Unlike edaphic factors, it is difficult to control climatic conditions and their changes that affect plant growth and development. To deal with such posture, farmers have to cultivate their crops at the right time. From this point, over two–year of 2014 and 2015, a field experiment was performed at El-Nubaria region, El-Behaira Governorate, Egypt, to assess the response of sunflower to different combinations between sowing dates (early, mid and delayed) and ascorbic acid treatments (with ascorbic acid and without ascorbic acid). Ascorbic acid was sprayed at 30, 40 and 50 days after sowing. The results showed that sowing sunflower in mid sowing (May 21) achieved the highest values of cumulative heat units utilization efficiency as well as all growth and yield traits, while the lowest values were recorded under the delayed sowing date (June 21). Application of ascorbic acid was effective for promoting growth and yield traits under all studied sowing dates. Ascorbic acid achieved 11.6, 10.1, 10.7 and 12.9% increases under early sowing, and 9.5, 6.6, 8.6 and 10.3% increases under delayed sowing in head diameter, seed weight plant^?1, seed yield and oil yield, respectively. Comparing to mid sowing?×?without ascorbic acid, application of ascorbic acid alleviated seed yield losses associated early sowing from 15.7–6.6% and from 23.0–16.4% with delayed one. In conclusion, for remediating the thermal stressful impacts of early or late sowing of sunflower, farmers are advised to treat crop plants with ascorbic acid to avoid yield losses.