Page 202 - AJWEP-22-5

Hussein, et al.

spray was applied. For both cultivars, this was done Table 1. Characteristics of the soil before the
4 times for each foliar nutrient on the vegetative portion experiment
of the plant, until the plant was completely wet. A 16-liter Traits Values
sprayer was used for the early morning spraying, with Electrical conductivity (dS/m) 4.30
a 20-day interval between each application (Table 2).
pH (1 soil: 1 water) 81.7
2.1. Meteorological data Cation exchange capacity (cmol[+]/kg) 25.2
Babylon Governorate is located in central Iraq and is Organic matter (g/kg) 1.22
characterized by a hot and dry desert climate, with long, Carbonate minerals (g/kg) 251
extremely hot summers and mild, rainy winters (Figure 1): Gypsum (g/kg) 2.31
• Temperatures: 2+
• Summer (June – August): Maximum Ca (mmol/L) 12.54
2+
temperatures range between 42°C and 50°C. Mg (mmol/L) 8.16
+
• Winter (December – February): Minimum Na (mmol/L) 3.76
temperatures range between 5°C and 10°C, K (mmol/L) 1.50
+
with maximum temperatures between 15°C HCO (mmol/L) 3.50
3−
and 20°C. SO (mmol/L) 5.40
2−
4
• Rainfall: Cl (mmol/L) 22.02
−
• Annual average: 100 – 150 mm, with rainfall CO (mmol/L) -
2−
3
occurring primarily in November and Available nitrogen (NH /NO ) (mg/kg) 27.14
−
+
December. 4 3
• Summer: Rainfall is rare during this period. Available phosphorus (mg/kg) 20.5
• Wind: Available potassium (mg/kg) 194.7
• Speed: 10 – 20 km/h, with an increase in Iron (mg/kg) 79.3
speed during the summer. Zinc (mg/kg) 0.710
• Direction: Predominantly from the northwest Molybdenum (mg/kg) 0.154
direction. Bulk density (mg/kg) 1.39
• Humidity: Sand (g/kg) 345
• Summer: Humidity is low, increasing the Silt (g/kg) 443
feeling of heat. Clay (g/kg) 212
• Winter: Humidity increases slightly, but Texture Loam
remains moderate.
The Kinglife foliar fertilizer has the following Table 2. Contents of AL-Nibras foliar fertilizer
ingredients: NPK (20:20:20), iron, manganese, zinc,
copper, boron, and molybdenum. Element Value
In this study, the characteristics examined are as follows: Nitrogen (%) 10
(i) Plant height: Measured from the plant’s point of Phosphorus (%) 8
contact with the soil surface to the end of the main Potassium (%) 6
stem, or growth tip. Chelated magnesium (ppm) 160
(ii) Branch number: The branch number was calculated
per plant. Chelated copper (ppm) 25
(iii) Fruit number: Determined by dividing the total
number of fruits in the experimental unit by the Japan) at a wavelength of 313.3 nm after acid
number of plants from all harvests, starting with digestion with ammonium oxalate, following
the first harvest 4 months after planting and ending standard soil analysis procedures. The values
with the final harvest at the end of the season. represent the bioavailable fraction rather than the
(iv) Available molybdenum: Measured in the total molybdenum content.
extracted solution using an atomic absorption (v) Available iron: Iron was extracted using a chelating
spectrophotometer (Model AA-7000, Shimadzu, agent (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) at

Volume 22 Issue 5 (2025) 196 doi: 10.36922/AJWEP025170130