Effect of Waterlogging on Element Concentrations, Growth and Yield of Wheat Varieties Under Farmer’s Sodic Field Conditions

Abstract

Six promising waterlogging tolerant varieties of wheat along with two local varieties were evaluated on farmer’s sodic field (pH, 8.9) under drained and waterlogged conditions. Waterlogging was imposed for 12 days at 25 days after sowing. The redox potential (Eh) value of the soil was reduced to +90 mV at 12 days of waterlogging and after removal of surface water, 16 days were taken to reach above the anoxic limit (≤+350 mV) of soil. Waterlogging reduced significantly the shoot dry weight of all varieties, but to a lesser extent for the tolerant varieties, KRL3–4, Kharchia65 and KRL99. Waterlogging caused many fold increase in leaf Fe, Al, Na and Na/K ratio and decrease in leaf K, P and S as compared to drained treatment; these increases or decreases in elements were above or below their critical toxicity or deficiency levels. The waterlogging tolerance of varieties based on relative shoot dry weight showed a significant negative correlation with leaf Na and Na/K ratio. As compared to drained condition, the reduction in grain yield ranged from 11 to 27 % in waterlogged treatments. KRL3–4 and NW1014 showed less yield loss and had significantly higher grain yield than local variety under waterlogging. Thus, these two varieties can be recommended for planting in study area. These results suggest for selecting a right tolerant variety for increasing wheat yield in a specific soil and waterlogging environment.