Effect of Adding Different Levels of Potassium on Some Vegetative Growth Characteristics of Maize Under Water Stress Conditions

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for the autumn season in 2022 in an agricultural land in the province of Raranjia (Hamzawiyah), 10 km south of Babylon Governorate, the center of Hilla, in soil with sandy clay mixed texture to improve the growth efficiency of the Maize plants (Zea mays L.) Fajr 1 cultivar under water stress conditions by the effect of irrigation durations and the addition of different amounts of potassium sulfate. The experiment was designed in randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with three replicates. in a split - plots arrangement, as the irrigation periods included four levels, namely irrigation every (6, 8, 10 and 12) days as a main factor, while potassium sulfate included four levels (0, 150, 200 and 250) kg.h-1. The results achieved the duration of irrigation every 8 days significant superiority in the average on the highest, leaf area, leaves content of chlorophyll and the dry matter of plant, which amounted to 177.8 cm, 519.3 cm 2, 47.9 SPAD and 428.5 g, while the duration of irrigation every 12 days was significantly reduced in reducing some vegetative growth characteristics, as the average yield of dry matter reached 341.9 g and the level of potassium sulfate added significantly affected the increase in vegetative of growth indicators such as plant height, leaf area, dry weight and leaf content of chlorophyll, and the potassium level of 250 kg.h-1 achieved the highest values among other potassium levels for the same traits, reaching 180.3 cm, 522.9 cm2, 432.1 g and 47.9 SPAD respectively, while the interaction between the two factors had a significant impact on most of the studied traits and gave interference Irrigation periods 8 days and potassium addition 250 kg.ha -1.