Combined application of moringa leaf extract and chemical growth-promoters enhances the plant growth and productivity of wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Wheat is regarded as a main staple crop in Pakistan because its contribution to the daily diet of a common man is 60%. Late sowing of wheat not only reduces yield but also affects efficiency of other production factors but it is not possible to absolutely avoid late sowing. Moringa leaf extract (MLE), exogenously applied either through seed or plant foliage, is known to boost field crops productivity under both normal and unfavorable conditions. A study was conducted to evaluate the crop growth enhancing potential of MLE alone and in combination with hydrogen peroxide, salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (ASA). The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with split plot arrangements having three replications. The treatments were control, hydropriming, MLE (3%) priming, MLE + H2O2 (2 μM) + SA (50 mg L−1) + ASA (50 mg L−1) priming, water spray, MLE spray and MLE + H2O2 + SA + ASA spray. Foliar treatments were applied twice during growth period at tillering and booting stages. Foliar application and priming approaches of MLE alone and with growth promoting substances were found to be better than control, and foliar effects were more prominent. Foliar application of MLE improved biological and grain yields and biochemical parameters as compared to control. It can be concluded that application of MLE as a priming agent improved the emergence parameters in normal and late sown wheat. Alone and blended MLE spray also enhanced the biochemical traits as well as growth attributes of wheat. Notably, application of moringa leaf extract alone portrays a beneficial role in terms of biological as well as economical yield of late sown wheat.