The Effect of Nano and Metallic Boron Spray on some Growth Traits of Sweet Corn under Water Stress Conditions

Abstract

Under conditions of water stress, a field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of spraying with nano and metal boron on certain vegetative development parameters of the sweet crop (Zea mays L. Var saccharata) in the fall seasons of 2021 and 2022. The experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of spraying with nano and metal boron. A split-plot R.C.B.D. with three replications was used to design the experiment. W1, W2, and W3 represented 40%, 60%, and 80% water depletion in the major plots. The sub-plots were treated with two concentrations of boron nano particles (5 and 10 mg L-1) designated N1 and N2, two concentrations of metal boron (20 and 40 mg L-1) denoted M1 and M2, and a control treatment of spraying distilled water only. The number of days from planting to 75% tasseling, plant height, leaf number, leaf area, leaf area index, plant dry weight, and crop growth rate for both seasons did not differ between 40% and 60% water stress. 80% water stress decreased all trait averages. Nano and metallic boron spraying significantly affected most features. Spraying with 5 mg L-1 nano-boron concentration reduced the number of days from planting to 75% tasseling by 46.89 and 47.11 days, as well as plant height (141.36 and 142.10 cm), leaf number (13.40 and 13.51 leaves plant-1), plant dry weight (165.80 and 165.93 g plant-1), and crop growth rate (3.53 and 3.51 g m2 day-1 ) for both seasons. However, spraying with 10 mg L-1 nano-boron concentration produced the largest average leaf area (4507.90 and 4530.80 cm2 plant-1) and leaf area index (2.40 and 2.41, respectively) compared to the control treatment for both seasons. For both seasons, Water stress and nano/mineral boron spraying influenced plant height, leaf area, leaf area index, and dry weight. In cases of restricted irrigation water, we propose watering when the available water is 60% drained and spraying with nano boron at 5 mg L-1 to improve the plant’s performance in most of the sweet corn crop’s development features.