Effect of Some Fertilizer Treatments on the Growth of Fountain Grass (Pennisetum Setaceum) Grown Under the Stress of Different Levels of Salinity

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out throughout two seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) at the Location on Cairo Ismailia Desert Road, Egypt, to find out the effect of some fertilizer treatments on the growth of fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), grown under the stress of different levels of salinity and three treatments (potassium silicate, carboxylic acid and control), growing medium consists of mixture of sand + compost (3:1, v/v). The effect of treatments on the growth and chemical composition of fountain grass was investigated. The highest level of saline water 4000ppm NaCl reduced all parameters compared with 2000ppm NaCl. Moreover, soil additives and foliar application significantly increased parameters of both saline concentrations, potassium silicate, carboxylic acid and interaction between them has increased all growth parameters, plant height (cm.), no. of tillers /Plant, No. of inflorescences/Plant, inflorescences length (cm), Herb fresh weight/plant (g), Herb dry weight/plant, and chemical components, total carbohydrates and N%, P% and K%. However, the obtained results indicated that applied (4g.) potassium silicate as soil drench with carboxylic acid as foliar application had a positive effect on most of the growth parameters and chemical components.