Abstract
The ongoing climate change with increasingly frequent, prolonged drought during the vegetation period is a significant factor affecting production of field crops, including durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). One of the approaches to effectively protect plants from drought stress is the foliar application of bioactive substances and selection of appropriate genetic material for specific location conditions. In this study, the impacts of brown seaweed based and humic substance-based biostimulants were researched. The positive impact of bioactive substances on grain yield has been reported in many studies. However, the impact on quality components is questionable and not well investigated. In this study, a highly significant (α < 0.01) positive impact of bioactive substances on grain yield was confirmed. The highest grain yield was observed on the fertilized variant with humic substances (4.03 t ha−1). When compared to control, there was a high statistically significant difference. The biofertilization impact on quality components was weakly positive in most cases, although without statistical significance (α > 0.05). The study included evaluating the interactions biofertilization–weather conditions (BW) and biofertilization–variety (BV). According to the ANOVA results, a highly significant impact in BW on grain yield was found, and in BV, a highly significant impact on protein content, falling number, and gluten content (α < 0.01) and significant impact on grain yield and vitreousness were found (α < 0.05). Correlation analysis among the monitored parameters was performed. The results that we obtained from the multi-annual field research may contribute to sustainable arable farming in areas with a lack of rainfall during vegetation. By foliar application of bioactive substances, we achieved a significant increase in the yield of durum wheat while maintaining or increasing the quality parameters of the grain.
Highlights
Durum wheat is the second most important wheat species after common bread wheat, and it is grown worldwide [1]
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of bioactive substances applied foliarly to durum wheat plants in the field and record changes in quantitative and qualitative characteristics
The impact of various sources of bioactive substances on durum wheat yield and quality parameters was evaluated. Both seaweed- and humic-based preparations were foliarly applied three times during the vegetation, and highly significant differences in grain yield were found in comparison with the control variant
Summary
Durum wheat is the second most important wheat species after common bread wheat, and it is grown worldwide [1]. Durum wheat is characterized by yield instability caused by adverse weather conditions, primarily by irregular water distribution and high temperatures during the grain filling stage [4]. Many different food products can be made from durum wheat grains, including pasta, bulgur, bread, etc. Semolina and pasta quality depend on harmonic protein concentration ensured by high doses of N fertilization. This requirement is often in conflict with the environment, which has led to the need for better crop nutrition management [6]. Agriculture in arid areas is threatened by risks from dry and hot weather conditions, which cause wheat yield reduction [11]
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