Reesponse of some bread wheat cultivars(Triticum aestivum L.) to irrigation with saline water and potassium fertilizer .

Abstract

This study was conducted by using plastic pots in the Department of Biology – College of Education for Pure Science / University of Kerbala for the growing season (2012 - 2013) . Factorial experiment in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates was applied .The objective of this experiment was to investigate the response of five wheat cultivars (IPA- 99, Al-Iraq, Al-Rashid ,AL- Fateh and Abu-Graib) to three concentrations of saline water (1.8 ,4 and 8 ds.m-1) and two potassium levels (120 and 180 kg k.ha-1). The following Characteristics studied flag leaf area, sodium concentration, potassium concentration, potassium to sodium ratio , spike length , number of spikes per plant, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight ,biological yield , harvest index and grain yield.Mean were compared using Least significant difference (L.S.D) at p =5% .The results showed that the cultivars significantly affected in the studied traits as gave AL-Iraq cultivar the highest values for the potassium concentration , potassium to sodium ratio, 1000-grain weight , harvest index , and grain yield (%3.64 3.14, 40.92 gm , 40.80% and 4.45 gm .plant-1) and achieved this cultivar beast interaction with saline level 1.8 ds.m-1 for grain yield 5.33 gm .plant-1 .Also it is possible to cultivate Al-Iraq cultivars and irrigation by water no exceed electrical conductivity 4 ds.m-1 with loss in grain yield dose not exeed 14.25%. Either have the effect of potassium fertilization results showed a significant increase in the rates of all the values of studied characters excluding sodium concentration and harvest index .Conclude from this study that cultivate Al-Iraq cultivar and adding potassium 180 k.ha-1 give the highest grain yield and reduces the effect of salinity.