Effect of Salinity and Moisture Content of Soil on Growth, Nutrient Uptake and Yield of Wheat Plant

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of salinity and moisture content of soil on growth, nutrient uptake, sodium-potassium relationship, and yield of wheat plant. Levels of soil salinity were adjusted to 0.18 (control), 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9% of oven dry soil. Levels of soil moisture were 40, 60, and 80% of capillary capacity. The following results were obtained. 1) Dry matter yield, uptake of N, P, and K as well as protein content in grains all increased at a soil salinity level of 0.3% and then decreased with increasing soil salinity up to the level of 0.9% which was severely depressive. However, the number of grains per spike, the weight of 1,000 grains and the efficiency of grain yield production percent all were generally decreased with each increase in soil salinity. 2). Dry matter yield as well as the uptake of N, P, K, and Na were increased when the soil moisture was 60% of the capillary capacity at the tillering stage and 60 to 80% at the booting and maturity stages. 3) Upon maturation, the highest values for the number of grains per spike were obtained when the soil moisture content was 80% of capillary capacity. However, the highest values for the weight of 1,000 grains and protein content in grains per plant were recorded when the soil moisture content was 60%. Nevertheless, the higher the soil moisture content the lower was the efficiency of grain yield production percent. 4) A negative relationship was observed between sodium and potassium concentrations in plant tissues other than grains, regardless of the levels of soil moisture.