Integrated Foliar Nutrients Application Improve Cereals Growth and Productivity under Moisture Stress Condition in Semiarid Climates Dr.  Amanullah Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar-Pakistan

The increase in world population, especially in developing countries where soil fertility and health are decreasing continuously leading to soil degradation and desertification. Water scarcity in developing countries mostly under semiarid climates is one of the major problems that decrease crop growth and yield leading to food security problems. Integrated foliar nutrients management system could improve crop growth, yield and yield components of crops under arid and semiarid climates. There is lack of research to study the impact of integrated foliar nutrients management in field crops. Therefore, field experiments were conducted for many years (2008-2013) with an objective to investigate the impact of integrated foliar nutrients management on cereals productivity (wheat and maize) under the semiarid condition at the Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar.  The objective of these experiments was to investigate the impact of sole and integrated foliar application on wheat and maize productivity under moisture stress condition in semiarid climate.  Foliar treated plots had higher yield and yield components than control plots. From wheat experiments it was concluded that combined (integrated) foliar application of Zn + B increases yield components and grain yield of wheat under dryland as well as irrigated conditions.  Combined foliar application of micronutrients (Zn+B) was better than combined application of macro nutrients (P+K) in terms yield and yield components. Combined application of B + macro nutrients (P+K) increased yield and yield components than combined application of Zn + macro  (P+K) nutrients. Combined application of K + micronutrients (Zn+B) was better than combined application of P + micronutrients (Zn+B). Foliar application of micronutrients at booting stage of wheat was more beneficial in terms of yield and yield components. From maize experiments, it was concluded that foliar P and Zn treated plots (rest) had better performance in terms of improved growth, higher yield and yield components than control (no foliar spray).  Application of foliar P at the rate of 3% and Zn at the rate of 0.3% improved growth, increased yield and yield components of maize under moisture stress condition. Foliar potassium and zinc improved growth and increased yield and yield components in maize over control. Application of foliar potassium @ 2% and foliar zinc @ 0.2% are more beneficial in terms of higher yield and yield components. Early application of foliar P, K and Zn at boot stage had positive impact on growth, yield and yield components of maize as compared to late spray of both nutrients (P and Zn) at silking.