The Efficiency of Foliar Fertilization of Spring Barley

Abstract

The broadcast application of solid fertilizers is practically the main method of fertilization in Poland. The efficiency of soil-applied fertilizers depends, however, on several environmental and agricultural factors differentiating the fertilization effect according to the years, the fields and the parts of a field. Theoretically it seems possible to increase the yield of plants and decrease the yield variability by foliar application of fertilizers. In this paper, the results of field experiments with foliar application of’Wuxal’ suspension type 1 (20-0-15-4) on Spring Barley are presented.

In the experiment years, the rainfall and temperature conditions were different (highest water deficit 1983, lowest in 1981). The efficiency of the ’Wuxal’ application varied according to this water deficit. In 1981 (low water deficit), the yield increase due to ’Wuxal’ application was approx. 0.9 tons of grain and the coefficient yield variation between the sub-plots had been diminished; in 1983 (very high water deficit), the foliar fertilizer application was ineffective and decreased the yield of spring barley (cf. our diagram showing the relationship between water deficit and ’Wuxal’ efficiency).