NANO-FERTILIZER AND SPRAYING TIME EFFECTS ON SUDAN GRASS GROWTH AND FORAGE YIELD IN SOUTHERN IRAQ

A field experiment was conducted in Agriculture College farm, Basrah University, Iraq during autumn season 2020 to study the effect of foliar application levels of Nano-fertilizer concentrates (6, 9, 12 and 15 g.L-1) and spray times (one time, two times and three times) on growth and forage yield of Sudan grass hybrid. A Randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split- plots was used with three replications. The main-plots included spray times, while the sub- plots included levels of nano-fertilizer. The results showed that the concentrations of foliar nano fertilizer and the number of sprays and their interaction caused a significant effect on growth and forage yield. The values of the plant height, tillers number, leaves number, leaf area, stem diameter, green and dry forage yield of plant were 260 cm, 13.00 tiller Plant(-1), 23 leaf tiller(-1), 9750.16cm(2), 16.00mm, 56.97 t.ha(-1) and 22.96 t.ha(-)1, respectively obtained from the interaction of three sprays and 15 g. L-1. On the other hand, values of one spray and 3g.L-1 of nano-fertilizer gave the lowest. The use of nano-fertilizers has a greater effect on growth and crop production. This would decrease the cost of fertilizer for crop production as well as reducing pollution risks.