Physiological and biochemical responses of two precocious varieties of wheat to phosphate rock and TSP fertilisation in semi-arid land

Abstract

The study was conducted in the semi arid area of Northeast of Algeria to characterize the physiological and biochemical effects of phosphate fertilisers on two precocious varieties of wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). The experiments were conducted on the experimental plots with the addition of different levels of the commercial fertiliser TSP at 15, 20 and 25 g m−2 or natural phosphate rock (DO20) at 35, 50 and 65 g m−2 containing 46% and 20% of P2O5, respectively, whereas potassium (K2SO4) and nitrogen (NH4)2SO4) were applied at constant split rates to all plots at 17.83 g m−2for the first and 47.5 g m−2 for the second rate. The crop was irrigated weekly during the wet period and 2 times during the dry period. Ten samples from each treatment were analyzed for leaf chlorophyll concentration, dry weight accumulation (shoots and roots), grain yield, and phosphor accumulation. The results showed that addition of phosphate fertiliser were equally effective with regard to all parameters irrespective of the form (TSP and DO20). Therefore, we conclude that the commercial water soluble TSP can be substituted by the sparingly soluble natural phosphate fertiliser (DO20) without significant negative effects on growth and yield of the two wheat varieties., whereas varietal difference was observed towards these two fertilisers.