Ameliorative Effects of Calcium Sprays on Yield and Grain Nutritional Composition of Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars under Drought Stress

Drought stress is seriously affecting maize production. To investigate the influence of calcium (Ca) foliar application on production and chemical composition grains under drought stress, two experiments were carried out at Cairo University Research Station, Giza, Egypt, during summer seasons 2018 2019. The experimental design was split-split plot with a completely randomized blocks arrangement three replications. Water regimes assigned to main plots [100 (control), 75, 50% estimated evapotranspiration]. Calcium levels (zero 50 mg/L) sub plots. Maize cultivars (SC-P3444, Sammaz-35 EVDT) sub-sub Three sprayed Ca solution concentration (50 normal conditions. control treatment (0 an equal amount distilled water for comparison. Results indicated significant decrease in total yield grain characteristics [protein, ash, sugars, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), iron (Fe) contents] as response drought. significantly increased yield, protein, carbohydrates, starch, ionic contents grains, except manganese (Mn), all irrigation levels. Based tolerance index (DTI), only cultivar SC-P3444 showed while EVDT sensitive stress. Foliar achieved highest per hectare (8061 kg) regime 100% evapotranspiration, followed by (7570 kg), (7191 cultivars. At 75% evapotranspiration (75% irrigation), 16, 13 14% SC-P3444, Sammaz-35, EVDT, respectively. (50% 17, 13% In brief, had clear impact productivity quality important implications Our findings demonstrate that enabled stressed plants survive better most tolerant