The Application of Citric Acid in Combination with Some Micronutrients Increases the Growth, Productivity and a Few Chemical Constituents of Maize (<i>Zea Mays</i>) Plants

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to study the helpful effects of foliar application with antioxidant citric acid in combos with some micronutrients on growth, yield and a few chemical constituents of maize (Zea mays L.) plants. The plants were grown up in clay soil, and foliar sprayed with eleven treatments (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.35, 0.4, 0.45 and 0.5%) of combined fertilizer (citrine) which contains (15% citric acid, 2% Fe, 2% Mn and 2% Zn). The obtained results indicated generally that each one studied vegetative growth parameters (i.e. plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves /plant, dry weight of leaves) similarly as grain yield /fed. and some of their components (i.e. ear length, ear diameter, number of rows/ear, number of grains/row, grain weight/ear, weight of 100 grain and ear weight/plant) and some chemical constituents of leaves (chlorophyll a, b, total caroteniods, anthocyanin, total carbohydrates, total and reducing sugars, total free amino acids, total indoles, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium) and grain protein %, were accrued with application of the various treatments. The maximum values were obtained from the treatment of 0.3%. On the contrary citrine treatments minimized reducing sugars and free phenol in leaves as compared to the control. The simplest results were obtained by the application of citrine treatment at 0.3%. Hence, it can recommend using citrine fertilizers as foliar application at the speed of 0.3% for improving growth, yield and chemical constituents of maize plants.