effect of irrigation water requirements and fertigation levels on

Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 16 (4): 441-450, 2013ISSN 1990-9233© IDOSI Publications, 2013DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2013.16.04.11733

Corresponding Author: S.F. El Habbasha, Field Crops Research Department, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

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Effect of Irrigation Water Requirements and Fertigation Levels on Growth, Yield and Water Use Efficiency in Wheat

R.E. Abdelraouf, S.F. El Habbasha, M.H. Taha and K.M. Refaie 1 2 3 4

Department of Field Irrigation and Water Relations, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt1

Department of Field Crops Research, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt2

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt3

The Central Lab. for Agricultural Climate, 4

Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Abstract: Two field experiments were carried out at the Agricultural Production and Research Station, NationalResearch Centre (NRC), El Nubaria Province, Egypt, during the two successive winter seasons 2010/2011 and2011/2012. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fertigation levels and irrigation requirements(IR) on growth, yield and water use efficiency in wheat (Sakha 93 cv). The results showed that decreasing offertigation levels from 100% to 50% NPK of the recommended fertilizer doses significantly decreased moststudied growth characters, yield and yield attributes, protein and carbohydrate contents while, water useefficiency increased. Decreasing the IR from 100% to 50% significantly decreased most of growth characters,yield and yield attributes, protein while, water use efficiency significantly increased. However, decreasing theIR from 100% to 50% decreased grain, straw and biological yield/faddan (one faddan=0.42 ha), from 1.91 to 1.27,from 4.66 to 3.48 and from 6.57 to 4.75 ton/faddan, respectively. The treatment 100% NPK of the recommendedfertilizer + 100% IR records the highest values of the studied growth characters, spike length, seed index andbiological yield/faddan while, 75% NPK recommended fertilizers + 100% IR surpassed in number ofspikelets/spike, number of spikes /m , grain and biological yield/ faddan.2

Key words: Growth Fertigation Yield Water requirements Water use efficiency Wheat

INTRODUCTION utilize this precious input in an effective way. The results

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a stable food for a the water requirement of wheat did not affect the wheatlarge numbers of the world population including Egypt grain yield and increased the water productivity [2-4].and considered the first strategic food crop in Egypt. Water and crop production relationships help in selectingWhere, wheat is the major source of calories and protein the strategy of best irrigation management. Improvingfor a large segment of the world population, the wheat water productivity with a view to producing more cropsproduction occupies a central position in forming per unit of water used is considered as one of theagricultural policies and dominates all crops in acreage important strategies for effective irrigation management.and production. Wheat is grown in Egypt on an area of Mohamed [5] reported that irrigation at 60% irrigation2.89 million faddans(one faddan=0.42 ha) with a total requirements gave the highest grain yield and harvestannual production of about 8.40 million tones and with an index in wheat, while WUE was the highest with 85%average yield of 2.90 tons per faddan during the year 2011 irrigation requirements. Karim et al. [6] observed thatgrowing season [1]. Water scarcity is one of the major irrigation at 35% available soil moisture depletion (ASMD)problems for crop production in Egypt, this is needs to gave highest yield (4.71 t ha ) with application of 120 kgreduce the consumption of water in irrigation by develop N, while irrigation at 65% ASMD produced satisfactorynew technologies and methods that can be help full to yield (4.13 t ha ) with highest WUE (196.5 kg ha cm )

showed that a reduction of 50 mm water application from

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with application of 80 kg N. Similarly, Aydin et al. [7] [19]. It is an effective means of controlling the timing andreported that irrigation at 66% ASMD was the most placement of fertilizers and improving fertilizer useeffective in terms of grain yield in wheat. Tahmasabi efficiency [20]. They further observed that P-uptake byand Fardad [8] applied irrigation at 10, 25, 50 and 75% wheat was also higher when phosphorus was appliedsoil moisture depletion and observed that grain yields by fertigation as compared to soil mixing [21]. Rapid Pwere 3384, 3050, 3094 and 2273 kg ha , while water use uptake took place only after first irrigation, i.e. 3-4 weeks1

efficiency was 1.13, 1.05, 0.82 and 0.86 kg m , after germination [22], due to much higher demand for P3

respectively. Narang et al. [9] found that yield of all at this time of growth as compared to other growth stageswheat cultivars studied was decreased with increasing [23]. Earlier studies showed little utility of appliedlevels of SMD, while water use efficiency was highest phosphorus before sowing until first irrigation to wheatwith 60% ASMD. Dawood and Kheiralla [10] stated crop. This three weeks time allowed for phosphorusthat irrigation treatment had highly significant effect fixation/reversion to less soluble form, which can beon plant height. It could be noted that average height avoided by fertigation which has the advantage ofof plants was described with imposing more water stress nutrient application at any time of plant growth. Thuson plant. They added that wheat cultivar (Sakha 69) application of nutrients synchronized with the plant needshowed an increase of 13.5% spike/m and 14.8% for the was expected to increase the nutrient efficiency andgrain yield/fad. Ehdaie [11] found that plant height and reduce the cost of crop production through savings inharvest index were decreased by 16% and 9% under fertilizer expenditure [24]. drought stress at booting stage, respectively. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate

Fertigation, is one form of chemigation is hence the effect irrigation water requirements and fertigationthe technique of supplying dissolved fertilizers to on growth, yield and some grain quality traits of wheatcrops through the irrigation system, it is a modern cultivar (Sakha 93).agro-technique, provides an excellent opportunity tomaximize yield and minimize environmental pollution [12] MATERIALS AND METHODSby increasing fertilizer use efficiency, minimizing fertilizerapplication and increasing return on the fertilizer invested. Two field experiments were carried out at theFertigation is an effective tool to control placement, timing Agricultural Production and Research Station, Nationaland the type of fertilizer needed according to the soil Research Centre (NRC), El Nubaria Province, Egypt,fertility status and the growth stage of the crop. When during the two successive winter seasons 2010/2011 andcombined with an efficient irrigation system, both 2011/2012, to investigate the effects of irrigationnutrients and water can be manipulated and managed to requirements (IR) and fertigation levels on growth, yieldobtain the maximum possible yield of marketable and water use efficiency in wheat (Sakha 93 cv). Physicalproduction from a given quantity of these inputs [13]. and chemical analyses of soil site were determinedContinuous small applications of soluble nutrients, according to the methods described by Chapaman andparticularly in sandy soils, result in more uniform Pratt [25] is shown in Tables 1 and 2. distribution of added nutrients and other chemicals A split plot design with three replicates was used,around plant roots and enhance the rate of nutrient where the fertigation (100%, 75% and 50% fromuptake by the plants [14, 15]. The potential advantages of recommend fertilizer rates of NPK) was allocated in thethis method include improved fertilizer use efficiency, main plots while the irrigation treatments (100%, 75% andflexibility in timing of fertilizer use in relation to crop 50% irrigation requirements) were applied in the subplot.demand, increased crop yields, improved quality of the The experimental unit consisted of 15 rows each ofproduce and saving in labour [16]. The hypothesis is that 3.5 meter length and 20 cm between rows where, the sizenitrogen use efficiency can be influenced by a fertigation of each plot was 10.5 m (1/400 faddan, one faddan= 0.42scheme, because movement and transformations of ha), seed rate of wheat (Sakha 93) was 60 kg/faddan.fertigated nitrogen are affected by applications [17]. Planting dates were on 17 and 20 November inThe method of fertilizer application is very important in the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 seasons, respectively.obtaining optimal use of fertilizer. It is recommended that The recommended dose of chemical fertilizer were addedfertilizer should be applied regularly and timely in small as positive control i.e. nitrogen fertilizer was added at aamounts [18]. This will increase the amount of fertilizer rate of 80 kg/faddan as ammonium sulfate (20.6 % N),used by the plant and reduce the amount lost by leaching while phosphorus and potassium were added at a rate of

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Table 1: Physical and chemical properties of soil site.Physical properties Chemical properties------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Depth Course sand Fine sand Clay + Silt Soil texture Organic matter (%) pH (1:2.5) EC (dSm ) CaCO %13

0-20 47.76 49.75 2.49 Sandy 0.65 8.7 0.35 7.0220-40 56.72 39.56 3.72 0.40 8.8 0.32 2.3440-60 36.76 59.40 3.84 0.25 8.9 0.44 4.68

Table 2: Physical properties of soil moisture. Depth Saturation Point (%) Field capacity (%) Wilting point (%) Available water (%) Hydraulic conductivity (cm/h)0-20 21.0 10.1 4.7 5.4 22.520-40 19.0 13.5 5.6 7.9 19.040-60 22.0 12.5 4.6 7.9 21.0

Fig. 1: The relation between growth of wheat plant andirrigation water requirements IWUE (kg/m ) =Total grain yield (kg/fad.)/Total

chemical fertilizers were added in equal doses every weektill 45 days after sowing. Sprinkler irrigation was applied Grain Protein Content: Total N-content in seeds wasas plants needed (3/4" diameter and discharge was 1.2 determined by using micro-kjeldhal method and them /h at 2.5 bar operating pressure and 12m service radius). protein % was calculated by multiplying N-content by3

Total irrigation requirements (m /faddan/season) were 6.25 according to Chapman and Pratt [25]. 3

estimated according to the meteorological data of theCentral Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC) Total Carbohydrates Content %: Total carbohydrates independing on Penman-Monteith equation was shown in grains was determined (as glucose) after acidFig. 1, the calculated seasonal water irrigation applied hydrolysis and spectrophotometrically determined usingwere 2060 m /fad (100 % IR), 1545 m /fad (75 % IR) and phenol-sulfuric acid reagent according to Dubois et al.3 3

1030 m /fad (50 % IR). Normal cultural practices of [30].3

growing wheat conducted in the usual manner followedby the farmers of this district. Statistical Analysis: Data were subjected to statistical

Data Recorded Cochran [31] and the combined analysis of the twoGrowth Characters: A random sample of 25 cm length x seasons results were conducted according to the method40 cm width from each plot was taken at 90 days after adopted by Steel and Torrie [32]. Mean values of thesowing. Plant height (cm), dry weight/plant (g), number of recorded data were compared by using the leastleaves/main stem, flag leaf area (cm ) and chlorophyll significant differences (LSD 0.05).2

content was estimated. Flag leaf area (cm ) was estimated2

according to the method described by Bremner and Taha RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS [26]. Total chlorophyll was estimated according toRichards and Thompson [27]. Leaf area = leaf length Growth Characters x maximum leaf width x 0.75 according to Stickler et al. Effect of Irrigation Treatments and Fertigation Levels on[28]. Some Growth Characters of Wheat Cultivar (Sakha 93):

Yield and Yield Attributes: At harvest, a random sample levels and irrigation requirements on plant height, numberof 25 cm length x 40 cm width was taken from each plot to of leaves/main stem, flag leaf area and total chlorophyll.determine, spike length (cm), number of spikes/m , number Fertigation levels significantly affected plant height,2

of spikelets/ spike, seed index. In addition, grain, strawand biological yields “ton/faddan” was determined fromthe whole area of experimental unit and then converted toyield per faddan.

Irrigation Water Use Efficiency (IWUE): The IWUE wascalculated according to James [29] as follows:

wheat crop3

applied irrigation water (m /fad./season).3

analysis of variance as described by Snedecor and

Data presented in Table 3 show that effect of fertigation


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number of leaves, flag leaf area and total chlorophyll, characters i.e. plant height, dry weight of plant and totalwhile dry weight of plant was not significantly affected by chlorophyll. These differences may be due to changes inthese treatments. However, decreasing of fertigation photosynthesis process, which is the most significantlevels from 100% to 50% NPK of the recommended process influence crop production and is also inhibited byfertilizer doses significantly decreased the studied drought stress. Some photosynthesis process studiescharacters except, dry weight of plant, while decreasing of have shown that the photosynthetic rate of leavesfertigation levels from 100% to 75% NPK of the decreases as relative water content and water potentialrecommended doses significantly decreased flag leaf area decrease [34]. Limitation of net photosynthetic rate in lowand total chlorophyll. Such increase in plant height may moisture stressed plant is mainly through stomatal closurebe due to the stimulation of cell division and internode [35] and/or by metabolic impairment [36]. These results areelongation, resulted from increasing nitrogen use in harmony with those obtained by Tatar and Gevrek [37];efficiency of fertigated plants. These results are in they showed that wheat dry mater production decreasedcoincidence with those obtained by Kassem and Al-Suker under drought stress. Ashraf et al. [38] reported that[33] revealed that, injection pump method recorded the drought stress reduced concentration of chlorophyll btallest plant, while, control method was shortest one. more than chlorophyll a.

The reduction in the irrigation requirements from100% to 50% significantly decreased most of studied Effect of Interaction Between Fertigation Levels andcharacters, where decreasing the irrigation requirements Irrigation Requirements on Some Growth Characters of(from 2060 m /fad. (100 % IR), to 1030 m /fad (50 % IR)) Wheat Cultivar (Sakha 93): Data presented in Table 43 3

decreased plant height from 118.44 to 114.78 cm, dry show the effect of interaction between fertigation levelsweight of plant from 5.29 to 4.20g and total chlorophyll (from 100% to 50% NPK recommended fertilizers) andfrom 36.96 to 31.96 mg/g F.W, respectively. Meanwhile, reducing of water requirements from 100% to 50%decreasing irrigation requirements from 100% to 75% did irrigation water requirements on plant height, dry weightnot show significant differences in most of studied of plant, leaves number/main stem, flag leaf area and totalcharacters, while decreasing irrigation requirements chlorophyll, where most studied characters significantlyfrom 75% to 50 % significantly decreased most of studied affected except, plant height and total chlorophyll.

Table 3: Effect of fertigation levels and irrigation requirements on some growth characters in wheat cultivar (Sakha 93).

Plant Number of leaves Dry weight Flag Total chlorophyllTreatments height (cm) /main stem / plant (g) leaf area (cm ) (mg/g F.W)2

Fertigation levels 100% 119.67 5.22 5.33 29.11 41.2775% 117.56 4.56 4.84 24.44 34.9650% 115.44 4.11 4.31 19.56 28.66

LSD 0.05 0.83 2.89 NS 1.88 5.30

Irrigation requirements 100% 119.44 4.67 5.29 24.78 36.9675% 119.14 5.00 5.00 25.56 36.9750% 114.78 4.22 4.20 22.78 31.96

LSD 0.05 NS 0.87 0.78 NS 0.97

Table 4: Effect of interaction between fertigation levels and irrigation requirements on some growth characters of wheat cultivar (Sakha 93).

Irrigation Plant Number of Dry weight/ Flag leaf Total chlorophyllFertigation levels requirements height (cm) leaves/main stem plant (g) area (cm ) (mg/g F.W)2

100% 100%1 121.00 5.33 5.70 30.33 43.6075% 118.67 4.67 5.27 24.00 35.7050% 115.67 4.00 4.90 20.00 29.57

75% 100% 122.00 5.87 5.67 28.67 42.0575% 119.67 5.00 4.97 27.33 37.4750% 116.67 4.33 4.37 20.67 30.83

50% 100% 116.00 4.67 4.63 28.33 38.6075% 114.33 4.00 4.30 22.00 31.7050% 114.00 4.00 3.67 18.00 25.57

LSD 0.05 NS 1.43 0.88 3.25 NS


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As expected, fertigation levels at 100% NPK of the values of the studied characters were recorded byrecommended fertilizer + 100% irrigation requirements fertigation levels at 100% NPK of recommended fertilizersignificantly surpassed the other treatments except, the without significant differences with the treatment 75%treatment of fertigation at 75% NPK of the recommended NPK of recommended fertilizer, except spike length,fertilizer + 100% irrigation requirements and fertigation number of spikelets/spike, grain yield/plant and seedlevels at 75% NPK of the recommended fertilizer + 75% index. The increase in wheat grain and biological yieldsirrigation requirements. Wheat fertigation at 100% NPK of with fertigation treatments may be due to producingthe recommended fertilizer + 100% irrigation requirements higher number of spikes/m and heavier kernels weightrecorded the highest values of the studied characters which resulted from improved nitrogen use efficiency asexcept, plant height and number of leaves/main stem a major component in chlorophyll and other cellularcompared to the other treatments. Data also illustrated constituents of plant. Such increase in biological yieldthat the use of fertigation practice could save better was obtained by improved nitrogen use efficiency due tocircumstances for nutrient release especially under low the increase in plant height and number of spikes m .irrigation levels, consequently greater water use efficiency These results are in harmony with those obtained byto produce better biomass so the reduction of irrigation Alam et al. [41], who found that split application of N atrequirements from 100 % to 75 % offset the impact of the first and second irrigation times by fertigation wasshortage in irrigation requirements in the studied superior to top-dressing. Fertigation applied N and Pcharacters. Water availability mostly affects accumulation fertilizer increased wheat grain yield by 16% over top-of some organic compatible solutes such as sugars, dressed N. Vishandas et al. [42] mentioned that fertigationbetaines and proline which adjusts the intercellular increased plant height (7.7%), spike length (4.6%), grainsosmotic potential is also early reaction of plants to water /spike (3.2), grains/plant (30.2%), seed index (4.9%), strawstress. Zlatev and Stoyanov [39] suggested that proline yield (5.4%) and grain yield (9.3%). Kassem and AL-Sukeraccumulation of plants could be only useful as a possible [33] found that the effect of fertigation on grain yield anddrought injury sensor instead of its role in stress its components for wheat crop was highly significant.tolerance mechanism. Vendruscolo et al. [40] found that Injection pump method recorded the highest number ofproline is involved in tolerance mechanisms against spikes/m with significant differences compared to theoxidative stress and this was the main strategy of plants other treatments. Injection pump method had the highestto avoid detrimental effects of water stress. number of spikelets/spike. The heaviest kernels weight

Yield and Yield Attributes fertigation (51.3g), while the lightest weight was obtainedEffect of Fertigation Levels and Irrigation Requirements by used control method (38.5). Grain and biological yieldson Yield and Yield Attributes of Wheat Cultivar (Sakha were highly significant increased by applied fertigation93): Data presented in Table 5 illustrated that reducing methods comparing with control. Sayed and Bedaiwy [43]fertigation levels from 100% to 50 % NPK of recommended found that applying chemigation resulted in significantfertilizer significantly decreased spike length, number of increase in grain yield, ranging between 9.9% and 50.0%spikelets/spike, 100-seed weight, number of spikes/m with averages of 43.2% and 14.5% over the first and2

,

grain, straw and biological yield/faddan. The highest second seasons, respectively.

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were obtained by applied injection pump method for

Table 5: Effect of fertigation levels and irrigation requirements on yield and yield attributes of wheat cultivar (Sakha 93).

Spike No. Seed Number of Grain yield Straw yield Biological

Treatments length (cm) spikelets/spike index spikes/m (ton/fad.) (ton/fad.) yield (ton/fad.)2

Fertigation levels 100% 10.78 16.33 4.87 481.56 1.73 4.04 5.77

75% 9.67 14.67 4.46 472.22 1.57 4.02 5.69

50% 9.44 13.44 4.34 455.11 1.38 3.73 5.11

LSD 0.05 0.83 1.62 0.21 14.21 0.17 0.70 0.64

Irrigation requirements 100% 10.67 16.78 4.89 488.44 1.91 4.66 6.57

75% 10.00 14.44 4.67 479.67 1.50 3.67 5.17

50% 9.22 13.22 4.11 440.78 1.27 3.48 4.75

LSD 0.05 0.96 0.96 NS 19.35 0.21 0.53 0.36


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Table 6: Effect of the interaction between fertigation levels and irrigation requirements on yield and yield attributes of wheat cultivar (Sakha 93)Fertigation Irrigation Spike Number of Seed Number of Grain yield Straw yield Biological yieldlevels requirements length (cm) spikelets/ spike index spikes/m (ton/fad.) (ton/fad.) (ton/fad.)2

100% 100% 11.00 15.67 5.10 485.00 1.97 4.90 6.8775% 9.67 15.00 4.57 480.00 1.90 4.67 6.5750% 9.33 12.67 4.33 474.00 1.63 4.43 6.06

75% 100% 11.33 17.00 5.20 497.00 2.10 4.83 6.9375% 10.33 15.67 4.80 495.33 1.83 4.73 6.5650% 10.33 15.67 4.67 473.00 1.80 4.40 6.20

50% 100% 10.00 14.33 4.30 462.67 1.60 3.40 5.0075% 9.00 13.33 4.00 441.33 1.30 3.67 4.9750% 8.67 12.00 4.03 418.33 0.90 3.37 4.27

LSD 0.05 NS 2.81 NS 24.62 0.30 0.22 0.52

Regarding to irrigation treatments, reducing of drought stress reduced all yield components so thatirrigation water duty from 100 to 50% significantly numbers of fertile spikes as well as number of grain perdecreased most studied characters except, seed index, spike decreased by 60% and 48%, respectively [51].where spike length decreased from 10.67 to 9.22 cm,number of spikelets/spike from 16.78 to 13.22, grain Effect of Interaction Between Fertigation Levels andyield/plant from 2.52 to 1.71 g, seed index from 4.89 to 4.11 Irrigation Requirements on Yieldand Yield Attributes ofg, number of spikes/m from 488.44 to 440.78, grain Wheat Cultivar (Sakha 93): Data presented in Table 62

yield/faddan from 1.91 to 1.27 ton, straw yield/faddan from showed that the interaction between reducing fertigation4.66 to 3.48 ton/faddan and biological yield/faddan from treatments from 100 to 50% NPK recommended fertilizers6.57 to 4.75 ton/faddan. Decreasing irrigation water and reducing irrigation requirements from 100 to 50% onquantities from 100% to 75% showed significant yield and yield attributes, where significant differencesdifferences in most studied characters, except spike were reported on most studied characters except, spikelength; seed index and number of spikes/m , while length and seed index. Fertigation treatment of 100% NPK2

decreasing irrigation water requirements from 100% to recommended fertilizers + 100% irrigation requirements50% significantly decreased most studied characters surpassed the other treatments in spike length, seed indexexcept, seed index. Decreasing irrigation water and biological yield/faddan, whereas fertigation level atrequirements from 75% to 50% showed significant 75% NPK recommended fertilizers + 100% irrigationdifferences in different characters, except, spike length, requirements surpassed the other treatments in number ofseed index and straw yield/faddan. Water stress interferes spikelets/spike, number of spike /m , grain yield/faddanwith both the production of photo assimilates and the and biological yield/faddan. However, no significantimport of assimilated material into the developing grains. differences between both treatments in number ofYield potential in cereals is apparently limited by the spikes/m , grain, straw and biological yield/faddan. Thecapacities of both the sink [44] and the assimilatory treatment 50% irrigation requirements + 50 % NPKsource [45]. Several workers reported that kernel growth recommended fertilizers recorded the lowest values ofincreased in response to both artificial reductions in sink different studied characters. capacity or artificially increased assimilatory capacity [46].Conversely, kernel growth has been shown to be retarded Water Use Efficiencyby reductions in assimilation before anthesis [47] Effect of Fertigation Levels and Irrigation Requirementsindicating that assimilate supply controls expression of on Irrigation Water Use Efficiency of Wheat Cultivarkernel weight. Theoretically, increasing the number of (Sakha 93): Data presented in Table 7 illustrated thatkernels that comprise the sink even at the expense of reducing fertigation levels from 100 to 50% NPKkernel weight can increase grain yield. Blade and Baker recommended fertilizers significantly increased irrigation[46] expressed the view that sink-related limitations to water use efficiency of wheat cultivar (Sakha 93),spring wheat yield are not important in a semi-arid however, it achieved about 29% increase in water useenvironment where drought stress typically limits efficiency where, irrigation water use efficiency increasedphotoassimilation. These results are in agreement with from 0.93 to 1.20 for fertigation levels 100 and 50%those obtained by Katerji et al. [48], Johari-pireuvatlou NPK recommended fertilizers treatments, respectively.[49] and Maralian et al. [50]. Studies have shown that These obtained trends are in general agreement with

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Table 7: Effect of fertigation levels and irrigation requirements on irrigation water use efficiency of wheat cultivar (Sakha 93). Fetigation rates Irrigation requirements

Treatments -------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------Characters 100% 75% 50% LSD 100% IR 75% IR 50% IR LSD 0.05 0.05

Irrigation Water Use Efficiency 0.93 1.07 1.20 0.12 0.73 1.26 1.23 0.10IR: Irrigation Requirements

Fig. 2: Effect of interaction between fertigation levels and highest water use efficiency followed by the treatmentsirrigation requirements on irrigation water use fertigation levels at 75% NPK recommended fertilizers +50efficiency of wheat cultivar (Sakha 93). % irrigation requirements, fertigation levels at 50% NPK

those reported by Threadgill [52] and Sayed et al. [53]. fertigation levels at 75% NPK recommended fertilizers +Sayed and Bedaiwy [43] water use efficiency was higher 100 % irrigation requirements, respectively. The use offor chemigation treatment than for the traditional method. fertigation with the different irrigation combinationsObviously, greater water use efficiency was reflected in recorded the lowest irrigation water use efficiency values.the production of greater crop and higher grain yield.Mesbah [54] reported that WUE increased with Grains Quality increasing K concentration where wheat plants sprayed Effect of Fertigation Levels and Irrigation Requirementswith 2 or 3 % recorded the highest value of WUE as on Grain Protein and Carbohydrate Contents of Wheatcompared with 1% or the control in two seasons. Cultivar (Sakha 93): Data presented in Table 8 indicatedRegarding irrigation requirements, reducing of water that reducing fertigation levels from 100 to 50% NPKrequirements from 100 % to 50 % significantly affected recommended fertilizers decreased grain protein andwater use efficiency of wheat plants where, 75% irrigation carbohydrate contents of wheat, where, protein contentrequirements achieved the highest water use efficiency decreased from 10.82 to 9.78 % and carbohydrate content(1.26), with no significant differences with treatment 50% from 76.84 and 69.86 % for 100 and 50% fertigation levelsirrigation requirements. These results are in harmony with NPK fertilizers, respectively. These results are in harmonythose obtained by Abd El-Rahman [55], who reported with these obtained by Mahdy and Teama [56]. Therethat water use efficiency for the three varieties were no significant differences between the effectsexpressed as kg/m of water consumed was increased nitrogen levels on the crude protein content in wheat3

using (S3 = 4 L/h on 2 lines) treatment and the highest grains. Regarding irrigation requirements, reducing ofWUE values were 1.20, 1.17 and 1.13 kg/m for Giza 7, water requirements from 100 % to 50 % affected on grain3

Sakha 8 and Giza 69, respectively. Mesbah [54] reported protein and carbohydrate contents of wheat plants, wherethat Irrigation wheat plants at 1350 m3/fad achieved a 100% irrigation requirements achieved the highest proteinsignificant increase for the WUE value and it was (11.31%) and carbohydrate contents (76.82%), with nodecreased with increasing irrigation water amount up to significant differences with other water requirement1850 m3/fad ranged from 1.42 and 1.18 and 1.30 to 1.13 treatments flowed by 75% irrigation requirements and 50%

kg/m water in the first and second season, respectively.3

These findings are in harmony with the scientificapproaches that supposed the plant roots could be extractmore soil water from a greater depth under stressconditions as compared to those irrigated at a relativelywet.

Effect of Interaction Between Fertigation Levels andIrrigation Requirements on Water Use Efficiency ofWheat Cultivar (Sakha 93): Fig. 2 illustrate the effect ofthe interaction between fertigation levels and irrigationrequirements on irrigation water use efficiency where nosignificant differences among treatments were observed.The treatment fertigation levels at 50% NPK recommendedfertilizers + 100 % irrigation requirements recorded the

recommended fertilizers + 75 % irrigation requirements and


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Table 8: Effect of fertigation levels and irrigation requirements on grain protein and carbohydrate contents of wheat cultivar (Sakha 93). Fertigation levels Irrigation requirements

Treatments -------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------Characters 100% 75% 50% LSD 100% IR 75% IR 50% IR LSD 0.05 0.05

Protein content (%) 10.82 10.04 9.78 NS 11.31 11.22 9.31 NSCarbohydrate content (%) 76.84 71.70 68.86 NS 76.82 72.42 66.16 NS

Fig. 3: Effect of interaction between fertigation levels andirrigation requirements on grain protein content of REFERENCESwheat cultivar (Sakha 93).

Fig. 4: Effect of interaction between fertigation levels and 5. Mohamed, K.A., 1994. The effect of foliage spray ofirrigation requirements on grain carbohydrates wheat with Zn, Cu, Fe and urea on yield, water usecontent of wheat cultivar (Sakha 93) efficiency and nutrients uptake at different levels of

irrigation requirements, respectively. These results are in 6. Karim, A.J.M.S., K. Egashira and M.J. Abedin, 1997.harmony with those obtained by Hasanpour et al. [57] Interaction effects of irrigation and nitrogenreported that light stress treatment caused a non- fertilization on yield and water use of wheat grown insignificant increase for protein percentage but this was a clay terrace soil in Bangladesh. Bull. Inst. Tropicalsignificant under severe stress treatments. Agric., 20: 17-26.

Effect of Interaction Between Fertigation Levels and irrigation applied depending on soil moisture onIrrigation Requirements on Grain Protein and some wheat cultivars. Orta Anadolu'da hububatCarbohydrate Contents of Wheat Cultivar (Sakha 93): tarmnn sorunlar ve cozum yollar Sempozyumu,Data presented in Figs 3 and 4 shows that effect of the Konya, Turkey, pp: 8-11 (Haziran 1999-2000, 196-202).

interaction of fertigation levels and water irrigationrequirements on grain protein and carbohydrate contentsin wheat. Insignificant differences were observed amongthe treatments. fertigation levels from at 75 % NPKrecommended fertilizers + 100% irrigation requirementstreatment recorded the highest grain protein andcarbohydrate contents followed by fertigation levels fromat 75 % NPK recommended fertilizers + 75% irrigationrequirements while, the lowest recorded values wasreported by fertigation levels from at 100 % NPKrecommended fertilizers + 50% irrigation requirements forgrain protein content and fertigation levels from at 50 %NPK recommended fertilizers+ 50% irrigation requirementsfor carbohydrate contents.

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