The Response of Globe Artichoke Plants to Potassium Fertilization Combined with the Foliar Spraying of Seaweed Extract

Abstract

This work investigated the effects of potassium mineral fertilizers, combined with biofertilizers (T1–T4 treatments) and the foliar spraying of seaweed extract (at 1 g/L, 2 g/L, and 3 g/L) on the vegetative growth characters, chemical constituents of foliage, and the yield and quality parameters of globe artichoke. The maximum height, and the fresh and dry weight of the leaves, was recorded in plants that received only soil with added potassium (T1 treatment) and sprayed with seaweed extract at 3 g/L. Furthermore, the highest number of offshoots per plant was registered in the T2 treatment combined with seaweed extract (3 g/L). T1 and T2 treatments resulted in the highest values of leaf N, P, K, and total carbohydrate content when combined with seaweed extract (3 g/L). The highest numbers of early, late, and total heads per plant were obtained for the T1 treatment and seaweed extract (3 g/L). Similarly, most of the head quality parameters were beneficially affected by the T2 treatment and seaweed extract (3 g/L). In conclusion, it is suggested that soil application of mineral potassium fertilizer (75% of RD) combined with biofertilizer (25% of RD) and the foliar spraying of seaweed extracts at 3 g/L, was most beneficial for the yield and quality parameters of globe artichoke plants.

Rationalization of Water Use and Fertilization of Globe Artichoke Using Magnetic Water Irrigation

“…Increasing rates of potassium and phosphorus fertilizers had positive effect on the inulin content of artichoke heads (Elsharkawy et al,2021). Related results were obtained by (Petropoulos et al, 2022) who indicate that applied 75% of recommended dose K significantly increased the inulin content. The best interaction of inulin content recorded when irrigated artichoke plants with 100% ETc magnetized water plus 50% of recommended NPK in both seasons Table 7.…”

“…However, in the second season there were no significant differences among the three treatments. Semi related results obtained by Petropoulos et al (2022) who found that soil treatment of 75% recommended potassium fertilizer increased quality measures of globe artichoke plants.…”

“…balancing nitrogen and phosphorus supply are successful strategies to increase crop yields and more sustainable addition with nitrogen. Also, applying 75 or 100 % of the required potassium level did not significantly impact the total artichoke yield (Petropoulos et al, 2022).…”

“…Similar findings from Selim (2019) demonstrated that adding 75% NPK significantly enhanced the height of potato plants and (Elsharkawy et al, 2021) who found that treated artichoke with 75% of requisite P and K increased the plant height. On the contrary, (Petropoulos et al 2022) found that the maximum plant height was produced with adding 100% of recommended potassium for globe artichoke plants.…”

Enhancement of Quinoa Grain Yield and Nutritional Quality by Potassium Fertilization Combined with Foliar Spraying of Seaweed Extract

“…The same findings were reported by Akhtar et al (2003) on peas, who reported that the best values of yield and quality traits were attained when potassium fertilizer was applied at 100 kg K 2 O/ha, but above this rate further application of potassium was ineffective. Moreover, Petropoulos et al (2022) showed that using 100 or 75% of the recommended potassium fertilizer dose recorded the best values for yield, quality parameters and chemical compositions of globe artichokes, without significant differences between them. However, Minh et al (2022) showed that the optimum rate of potassium for quinoa grain yield was found to be 105 kg K 2 O/ha which resulted in higher protein and fat contents but lower starch and fiber contents in grains.…”