Efficiency of nitrogen, gibberellic acid and potassium on canola production under sub-tropical regions of Pakistan

The global demand for crop production is rapidly growing due to the continued rise in world population. Crop productivity varies generally with soil nutrient profile and climate. The optimal use of fertilizers might help to attain higher crop yield in canola. To circumvent nutrient imbalance issues in soil, two separate field trials were conducted to determine (a) the best source of nitrogen (N) between ammonium sulfate (NH(4))(2)SO(4)) and ammonium nitrate (NH(4)NO(3)), (b) significance of gibberellic acid (GA(3)) and potassium (K), in an attempt to enhance canola yield and yield attributes. Both experiments were carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. The nitrogen source in the form of NH(4))(2)SO(4) (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg/ha) and NH(4)NO(3) (0, 50, 75 and 100 kg/ha) was applied in the rhizosphere after 3 and 7 weeks of sowing, referred to as experiment 1 (E1). In another separate experiment (E2), the canola crop was sprayed with four level of GA(3) (0, 10, 15, 30 g/ha) and K (0, 2.5, 3.5, 6 g/ha) individually or in combination by using hydraulic spryer, 30 days after sowing (DAS). The data was collected at different growth stages of canola and analyzed statistically. The E1 trail showed that N fortification in the form of NH(4)NO(3) (100 kg/ha) and (NH(4))(2)SO(4) (30 kg/ha) had a positive effect on the plant height, number of branches, fruiting zone, seed yield per plant, seed yield per hectare of canola except oil percentage. Moreover, canola plants (E2) also displayed a significant improvement on all studied features with high doses of GA(3) (30 g/ha) and K (6 g/ha) individualy and in combined form. The correlation coefficient analysis of (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and NH(4)NO(3) was highly significant to plant height, number of branches, fruiting zone, seed yield per plant, seed yield per hectare of canola In a nutshell, compared to both source of N, NH(4)NO(3) was more efficient and readily available source of N. GA(3) being a growth elicitor and potassium as a micronutrient serve as potential source to improve yield and to manage nutrient profile of canola.