Effect of silicon and algae extract foliar application on growth and early yield of globe artichoke plants.

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out in Vegetables Research Farm of Kaha, Kalyoubia, Horticulture Research Institute, A.R.C., Egypt to investigate the effect of sprayingwith silicon (1000 and 2000 ppm SiO2) or algae extract (2 ml/L and 4 ml/L) sprayed twice at 45 and 60 days after planting on the growth, early yield, total yield and chemical components on globe artichoke plants of French cultivar (Hyrious) which were grown under drip irrigation during the two successive seasons of 2015/2016 and 2016/2017. The obtained results showed that globe artichoke plants were sprayed with silicon (2000 ppm SiO2) or algae extract (4 ml/L) recorded the highest significant increase in all studied growth characters (i.e., plant height, numbers of leaves per plant, total leaves area per plant, fresh and dry weight of shoot). As well as significant increase in the yield parameters (i.e., head diameter, fresh head weight, head length, fresh and dry weight of receptacle) also, the same treatments recorded the highest values of early and total yield per feddan and significant increase chlorophyll a, b , total chlorophyll , in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium concentrations as well as total sugar and total amino acid concentrations followed by plants sprayed with silicon (1000 ppm SiO2) or algae extract (2 ml/L) in the two successive seasons when compared with untreated plants. Conclusively, from that obtained data in this study, it can be recommend the use silicon (2000 ppm SiO2) or algae extract (4ml/L)as foliar spray on globe artichoke plants for improve their growth, early and total yield.