Shift in physiological and biochemical processes in wheat supplied with zinc and potassium under saline condition

ABSTRACT

Soil salinity is a serious abiotic factor affecting the production of crops by reducing potassium (K) uptake due to strong competition with sodium (Na) cations in the root regions. In calcareous soils, most of the nutrients precipitate in unavailable forms for plants. This study investigated the physiological and biochemical response of two wheat genotypes salt tolerant Abadghar and salt sensitive Pari-73 supplemented with K and zinc (Zn) nutrition. A factorial experiment with three levels of K (0, 50 and 100 kg ha⁻¹) and three levels of Zn (0, 25 and 50 kg ha⁻¹) based on a complete randomized design was employed. The results showed significant effect of treatments on chlorophyll (Chl) contents, water relations, nitrogen metabolism and yield attributes. The treatment K+Zn (100, 25 kg ha⁻¹) was the most effective in increasing grain yield. The results achieved highlight the importance of K and Zn nutrition in salt-stress conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• chlorophyll contents
• nitrate and nitrite reductase activities
• water relations
• wheat grain yield and salinity