THE EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF HUMAT E ON WHEAT-GRAIN YIELD AND QUALITY

Three-year small-plot trial (1993/1994 to 1995/1996) was carried out o n loam chernozem at the Breeding Station Sladkovicovo-Novy Dvor to stu dy in the model crop, winter wheat, the stimulative effect of foliar a pplication of sodium humate together with the fertilizer DAM 390 durin g production and qualitative fertilization. Experimental site is chara cterized by average temperature 10.6 degrees C and annual sum of preci pitation 495 mm. The soil on the experimental site has an alkaline rea ction, medium content of available phosphorus, good content of potassi um and high content of magnesium. More significant yield effect was ob tained at common application of sodium humate with DAM 390 on producti on dressing (yield increase by 7.7%) compared with the use for qualita tive dressing (yield increase by 4.0%). Stimulation effect on the prod uction was positively manifested in economic evaluation of the crop, t hat is in increase of economic and natural efficiency of nitrogen nutr ition. The use of sodium humate had a good impact also on the uptake o f macronutrients by wheat grain, namely with nitrogen 7.2 to 13.4% inc rease, with phosphorus 7.7 to 13.9% increase, with potassium 4.2 to 5. 6%, with calcium 12.2 to 26.3% and with magnesium 5.0 to 9.1% increase . Stimulative yield effect of humates is explained by greater usage of nutrients from applied fertilizers or from soil supply, respectively. The use of sodium humate had a good impact on an increase of the crud e protein content (by 2.8 to 4.9%) and wet gluten content (by 1.3 to 2 .8%). 1000-kernel weight (TKW), bulk density of grain and proportion o f first grade was not affected by sodium humate.