POTASSIUM AND NANO-COPPER FERTILIZATION EFFECTS ON MORPHOLOGICAL AND PRODUCTION TRAITS OF OAT (AVENA SATIVA L.)

Potassium is the third essential nutrient of commercial fertilizers, which strengthens plants' abilities to resist diseases and plays a vital role in increasing crop yields and overall quality. Nanofertilizers offer benefits in nutrition management through their strong potential to increase nutrient uptake efficiency and release nutrients very slowly compared with conventional fertilizers. Potassium fertilizer and nano-copper fertilization effects on oat (Avena sativa L.) morphological and yield traits have been studied in the spring season 2020-2021 at the Department of Field Crops, College of Agriculture, University of Kerbala, Iraq. The said study conducted research with two factors, viz., potassium fertilizer levels (0, 80, and 160 kg ha-1) and nano-copper concentrations (0, 30, and 60 mg L-1) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Potassium fertilization at the rate of 160 kg ha-1 produced the highest mean number of tillers, spikes m2, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield, and harvest index, with average values of 510.37 tillers m-2, 438.99 spikes m-2, 41.14 g, 26.52 ton ha-1, 5.85 ton ha-1, and 22.00%, respectively. The nano-copper application at the concentration of 60 mg L-1 followed by the values of 478.13 tillers m-2, 418.87 spikes m-2, 36.91 g, 4.69 ton ha-1, 25.25 ton ha-1, and 22.02%, respectively. The combined use of potassium (160 kg ha-1) and nano-copper (60 mg L-1) proved more effective in boosting the oat grain yield. Results revealed that the oat exhibited more favorable vegetative and productive development features after receiving potassium and nano-copper fertilization.