Effect of soaking seeds in some organic solutions on wheat grown in sandy

A research field experiment was carried out to study the effect of soaking wheat seeds before sowing in aqueous solutions of Gibberellic acid GA3 (2 g L-1), Salicylic acid SA, humic acid HA and potassium humate K-H (6 g L-1 each) on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity under sandy soil conditions. Wheat yield (t ha-1) increased maximally by 4.57% for GA3 treatment while decreased by 7.65% for the HA treatment compared with the control. Seed yield (t ha-1) increased by 8.01% for K-H but decreased by 3.77% for HA. Shelling (%) increased significantly by 6.29% for K-H only while decreased by 3.73% for GA3. Treatments significantly affected soil available, seed total and Si-uptake by wheat seed. Available Si in soil (mg kg-1) significantly decreased in the order GA3 by 23.39% > HA by 20.71% > K-H by 13.4 > SA by 7.55%. Total Si (g kg-1) in seeds significantly increased in the order GA3 by 700% > SA by 672.73% > HA by 386.36% but decreased by 22.73% for K-H for which Si-uptake decreased significantly by 16.54%. The studied plant growth regulators (PGRs) may affect the soaked wheat seeds physiologically and result in an interrupted nutrient uptake due to imbalanced nutrient availability including NPK and Si. However, soaking in K-H can be recommended and preferable than GA3, HA, and SA for health aspects and to avoid luxury Si consumption by seeds.