Effects of Fertilizer Application on the Growth Performance of Forage Genotype under Waterlogging Stress

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted at the Professor Dr. Purnendu Gain Field Laboratory, Khulna University, to evaluate the effects of waterlogging conditions and foliar spray treatments on the growth, physiological performance, and biochemical responses of plants. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two factors comprising two waterlogging conditions, L1 and L2, and four foliar spray treatments, FS0, FS1, FS2, and FS3. Data were recorded on plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width, SPAD value, relative water content, wilting score, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, relative proline, and proline content at 55 DAS, 62/69 DAS, and 69/76 DAS. Waterlogging conditions significantly influenced most of the studied traits. Plants subjected to the shorter waterlogging condition, L1, maintained better growth, leaf greenness, and water status than those subjected to the prolonged waterlogging condition, L2. Prolonged waterlogging reduced plant height, leaf length, leaf width, SPAD value, and relative water content, while increasing wilting score, MDA content, and proline accumulation. Foliar spray treatments also markedly affected most parameters. Among the treatments, FS3 was the most effective in improving plant growth, chlorophyll status, and relative water content, while reducing wilting and oxidative membrane damage. Leaf number was comparatively less responsive, with non-significant main and interaction effects, although FS3 produced numerically higher values. The interaction between waterlogging and foliar spray varied among the studied traits and observation periods. The L1FS3 treatment combination produced the best overall growth and physiological performance, whereas L2FS0 caused the greatest stress injury. In contrast, L2FS3 recorded the highest relative proline and proline content, indicating enhanced biochemical adjustment under severe waterlogging stress. Overall, the findings demonstrated that FS3 substantially alleviated the adverse effects of waterlogging by improving plant growth, maintaining leaf water status and chlorophyll content, reducing wilting and lipid peroxidation, and promoting protective proline accumulation. Therefore, FS3 may be considered an effective foliar treatment for improving plant tolerance and recovery under waterlogged conditions.

• Supervision