The Role of Foliar Potassium Fertilization on Average Maturity Stage and Yield of Three Oat Cultivars (Avena Sativa)

Abstract A field experiment was carried out during the winter seasons of 2021-2022 and 2022- 2023 in a private field in the Habbaniyah district to study three cultivars of oat (Hamel, Carlup, and Genzania) and the effect of three levels of potassium (0, 1500, and 3000 mg L −1 ) on the average maturity stage, grain yield, and its components. The study was implemented using a split-plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The concentration of 3000 mg L −1 resulted in the shortest time to reach physiological maturity and the highest number of grains per panicle, with an average of 57.87 and 58.53 grains panicle −1 . The highest grain yield was recorded at 5.79 and 6.17 tons ha −1 for both seasons, respectively. The Carlup cultivar showed the shortest time to reach physiological maturity, with an average of 126.40 and 122.38 days for both seasons, respectively. The Genzania and Carlup cultivars excelled with the highest number of grains panicle −1 (55.30 and 58.05 grains panicle −1 ) and the highest grain yield, at 5.39 and 5.86 tons ha −1 for both seasons, respectively. The interaction between the cultivars and potassium levels showed significant effects in most of the studied characteristic for both seasons, with the Genzania and Carlup cultivars sprayed with a concentration of 3000 mg L −1 achieving the highest grain yield of 6.04 and 6.45 tons ha −1 for both combinations and seasons, respectively.