ENHANCING WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) PRODUCTIVITY AND WEED SUPPRESSION BASING ON POTASSIUM TIMING AND DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF VARIOUS PLANT EXTRACTS

Two filed experiments were performed in a sandy soil private farm located in El-Qassasin, Fakous District, Sharqia Governorate, Egypt, along the two winter seasons of 2020/21 and 2021/22, to investigate the influence of spraying three aqueous extracts from three plant species besides their mix, as well as the efficacy of the three plant extract concentration alongside spraying with distilled water as control treatment. Additionally, the effect of three potassium application times on bread wheat yield and its attributes as well as grains content of both crude protein and carbohydrates were studied. The impact of the above mentioned factors on weed suppression (weeds number and dry weight) was assessed. Split-split plot design in three replicates was applied. Results displayed that spraying wheat plants with plant extracts had significant effects on all recorded traits except No. of tillers/m², No. of grains/spike, and Total Carbohydrates. Chinopodium extract produced higher biological yield and seed index. Lantana extract also achieved higher yield. Moringa oleifera extract had the highest value for each of biological yield and seed index. Foliar spraying with these extracts stimulated dry matter accumulation. Moringa and Chinopodium extracts produced the highest grain protein content. Foliar spraying with these extracts suppressed weeds number and dry weight. The concentration of plant extracts significantly impacted biological yield in wheat plants. A 75% concentration of sprayed extracts reduced weeds number and their dry weight; leading to higher grain yield, harvest index, and crude protein content. Fairly Potassium addition (pre-sowing) hampered weeds number and dry weight (combined analysis) while enhanced wheat yields and most of their attributes. Potassium played a crucial role in weed suppression, making wheat plants more competitive to weed plants. Adding potassium at early stages of growth is recommended. The interaction between extracts and concentrations significantly affected biological and grain yields, harvest index, and crude protein content. However, the interaction was ineffective on other traits. The interaction between extracts and potassium timing was also effective. The study found that spraying wheat plants with a mixed extract from three plant spices (C. album, M. olefeira, and L. camara) resulted in the highest reduction percentage in weed components, with C. album extract ranking second in suppressing weed components.