Enhancing Grain Yield and Nitrogen Accumulation in Wheat Plants Grown under a Mediterranean Arid Environment by Foliar Spray with Papain-Released Whey Peptides
AbdAllah M. El-Sanatawy | Salwa M. A. I. Ash-Shormillesy | Ahmed Abou El-Yazied | Hany G. Abd El-Gawad | Ehab Azab | Adil A. Gobouri | Mahmoud Sitohy | Ali Osman
Due to their beneficial, stimulating impact on plant growth, productivity, and alleviating environmental stresses, protein hydrolysates have recently received increasing attention as a possible substitute. This investigation aimed to explore the effects of foliar application of papain-produced whey protein hydrolysates (WPH) on the yield attributes and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of soft wheat. Wheat plants were cultivated under a Mediterranean arid environment and received four soil nitrogen (N) fertilization levels with ammonium nitrate (145, 185, 215, and 250 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup>) and compared to control treatment and urea foliar application. WPH increased grain yield, yield attributes, and N accumulation in wheat plants. Partial productivity factors of applied nitrogen, as NUE indicators under relatively steady-state cropping systems, were also enhanced by WPH compared to control treatment. WPH significantly improved flag leaf area, spike number m<sup>−2</sup>, and grain yield compared to urea foliar application. Increasing the soil N fertilization level from 145 up to 215 kg N ha<sup>−1</sup> was accompanied by significant increases in all yield traits and N accumulation measurements, except for the partial factor productivity of applied N, which decreased. A strong positive association was detected among grain and straw yields, their attributes, and total N uptake. Results highlighted the efficacy of WPH in increasing wheat yield and NUE.
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