The effect of nano-potass fertilizer and methanol application on some physiological characters, yield and yield components of wheat

Application of methanol foliar on aerial parts of plants increases their yield and accelerates their ripening and also the use of nano-fertilizers for precise control of nutrients release can be an effective step towards achieving sustainable agriculture. In order to evaluate the effect of foliar application of methanol and potash fertilizers on photosynthetic pigments, yield and yield components of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a factorial experiment was conducted as a randomized completely blocks design with three replications in 2015-2016 at Research Farm, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran. Factors included three levels of methanol (0), 10 and 15% by volume and three levels of nano-potash fertilizer (0), 2 and 4 per thousand. Results showed that foliar application of methanol had only a significant effect on harvest index. Effect of nano-potash fertilizer on spike per plant was significant. Interaction between nano-potash fertilizer foliar and methanol on grains per spike, plant height, grain yield, chlorophyll and carotenoids was significant, while there was no significant effect on grain weight and biological yield. The highest and the lowest of chlorophyll a, b and total carotenoids contents were found in foliar treatment with 10% methanol and 4 kg nano-potash and control (no application), respectively. The highest grains per spike and grain yield were obtained with 15% methanol and 4 kg nano-potash compared to control treatment (40 and 45 percent), respectively. Overall, results showed that foliar treatment 15% methanol with 4 kg/ha nano-potash could possibly be useful to increase wheat yield.