Effects of Irrigation Deficit and Sowing Methods on Growth Charactrs and Water Requirements of Some Wheat Cultivars

Abstract

In order to investigate the influence of different irrigation regimes i.e. irrigation at tillering stage (I1), at tillering and heading stage (I2) at tillering , heading and grain filling stage (I3) of the available soil moisture depletion with three methods of sowing i.e. broadcasting, drilling and beds sowing on some and characters of growth attributes, relative water content, water use efficiency and drought susceptibility index for four wheat cultivars namely; Gemmeiza-11,Misr-1, Shandaweel-1 and Sids-12. So, two field trials was carried out during 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, at El-Gemmeiza Agric. Res. Stat. The results can be summarized as follows: Subjecting wheat plants to drought-stress resulted in a significant reduction in plant height, number of days to heading, number of days to maturity, grain filling period, flag leaf area and relative water content. Water use efficiency and total chlorophyll content tends significantly increased as irrigation regime decreased. Moreover, number of days to heading, number of days to maturity, grain filling period and flag leaf area were insignificant differed due to the tested sowing methods. However, beds sowing method was significantly differed total chlorophyll content, relative water content and water use efficiency. Gemmeiza-11 cultivar surpassed others tested cultivars with respect the abovementioned traits, except number of days to maturity since Shandaweel-1 cultivar was the earliest. Wheat plants grown under severe water deficit were more sensitive to drought. This was clear from drought sensitivity based on drought susceptibility index. Sids-12 and Misr-1 cultivars was proved to be the most drought-tolerant cultivar compared to the other tested ones.