Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the response of two wheat cultivars (AARI-11 and Millat-11) to a foliar application of four growth enhancers which include: {H2O (water), MLE30 (moringa leaf extract), KCl (potassium chloride), and BAP (benzyl-amino purine)}, within the six irrigation water-regimes which are applied at the various critical growth stages such as crown root initiation (CRI), tillering (T), booting (B), and heading (H). Irrigation water-regimes include: CRI+T+B, CRI+T, CRI+B, T+B, T+H, and control (CRI+T+B+H). The growth enhancers i.e., H2O, MLE30 (1:30), KCl (2%), and BAP (50 mg L−1) were applied @ 500 L ha−1 at tillering and heading stages. The results demonstrated some increased quantities of both enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase) and non-enzymatic (ascorbic acid, phenol) antioxidants in leaves of AARI-11 when MLE30 was applied under T+B and T+H irrigation water-regimes. Similar results were also observed in the case of leaf chlorophyll “a” and “b” and K+ contents in both cultivars under control, T+B and CRI+T+B irrigation water regimes. AARI-11 produced the highest biological and grain yield, due to the application of MLE30 and BAP under control, CRI+T+B, T+B, and T+H irrigation water-regimes. However, KCl lagged behind among the treatments set for both cultivars under all the irrigation water-regimes. Foliar spray of MLE30 remained prominent growth enhancer and stresses mitigating agent under water deficit conditions particularly under T+B and T+H irrigation water-regimes. Moreover, economic analysis indicated that the foliar application of MLE30 is a cost effective and environment friendly strategy for the maximum yield and income.
Highlights
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important feeding cereals for one-fifth of the world population (FAO, 2011)
Six irrigation waterregimes were adopted based on the critical growth stages of wheat {Crown Root Initiation (CRI), Tillering (T), Booting (B), and Heading (H) stages} i.e., irrigations applied at crown root initiation (CRI)+T+B+H, irrigations applied at CRI+T+B, irrigations applied at CRI+B, irrigations applied at CRI+H, irrigations applied at T+B and irrigations applied at T+H
The maximum total soluble proteins (TSP) was obtained from the foliar application of MLE30 in Millat-11 under irrigation water-regimes of T+B and T+H (Table 1)
Summary
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important feeding cereals for one-fifth of the world population (FAO, 2011). Wheat crops require a special attention for an incremental production in order to ease the food security issues for the world population which is growing so rapidly. Mitigating Water Stress in Wheat insufficient availability of water (Araus et al, 2003). Application of irrigations at vegetative and reproductive growth stages is a sensitive tool for obtaining optimum yields. Irrigation water-regimes at the critical growth stages of wheat minimize severe losses of grain yield as at preanthesis (1–30%) and post-anthesis (58–92%) stages (Farooq et al, 2014). To determine the most critical growth stages of wheat for irrigation management and utilization of available water resources is necessary to maximize crop yield
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