Response of wheat to nitrogen fertilization under saline irrigation water conditions
Abstract: Greenhouse experiments were conducted during two successive seasons to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilizer rates under irrigation with saline water on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity and soil salinity. Treatments included 5 N-fertilizer rates i.e. 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 g N/ pot and 4 levels of salinity in irrigation water i.e. 0.60, 4.7, 9.4, 14.0 dS/m. Wheat variety Giza 168 was grown to maturity on calcareous soil. Soil properties were determined and wheat yield and yield components were recorded and statistically analyzed.
Salinity of irrigation water (ECi) had a dominant effect on soil salinity, in which ECe reached 6.55, 12.38 and 18.20 dS/m for ECi of 4.7, 9.4, 14.0 dS/m, respectively. Sodium adsorption ration (SAR) increased from 5.13 to 12.77, 14.45 and 17.64 due to Na accumulation in soil. The results indicated that grain yield, biological yield, 100-grains weight, number of spikes, and plant height of wheat cultivar (Giza 168) were affected significantly (p≤ 0.05) due to nitrogen and salinity treatments. Averaging over salinity treatments, grain and biological yields increased significantly with increasing N-fertilizer rates up to 4.5 and 3.0 g N/ pot., respectively. Additional application of nitrogen was not consistent. On the other hand, grain and biological yields decreased significantly, as salinity increased. Biological yield was the most sensitive indicator to salinity, being reduced by 20.4, 40.6, and 56% at 4.7, 9.4, and 14.0 dS/m, respectively, compared with the control. While, grain weight expressed as 100-grains weight was the least sensitive character to ECi, being decreased by 1.69, 5.91, and 9.92 % at the same salinity levels, respectively.
The results indicated that the nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) reached the highest value at fertilizer rate of 3.0 g N/pot and the lowest ECi. Doubling the nitrogen level from 1.5 to 3.0 g N/pot brought an increase in NUE values from 13.14 to 17.22, and then decreased to 10.21 by further nitrogen application up to 6.0 g N/pot. At low salinity, NUE was greater than at high salinity, suggesting that N aggravate salt damage at high salinity and reduced the apparent salt tolerance.
The present result may have important implications regarding to N fertilization, where the fertilization practices can be modified according to the prevailing soil salinity
Publication year 2006
Pages 143-155
Availability location Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute, ARC
Availability number
Organization Name
Country Egypt
City Alexandria
serial title J. Adv. Agric. Res. 11(1):143-155.
Volume 11 . 1
Department Soil Salinity and Alkalinity Res. Lab.
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Soil erosion, conservation and reclamation
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Nitrogen fertilizers. Saline water. Wheats.
Publication Type Journal
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