IMPACT OF SOWING DATE OF WHEAT UNDER WATER STRESS IN NORTH NILE DELTA-EGYPT

The present investigation was conducted at Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. The station is sited at 310ₒ -57‾/ N latitude and 300-57‾ longitude. It has an elevation of about 20 m above sea level and it represents the conditions and circumstances of the middle north Nile Delta. A field experiment was carried out during the season 2014/2015 to study the effect of number of irrigations and sowing date on wheat yield, its components and some water relationships. A split plot design with four replications was used. Sowing date were 15/11 ( D1), 30/11 ( D2) and 15/12 ( D3) occupied the main plots, while irrigation regime were I1 = 5 irrigations , I2 = 4 irrigations and I3 = 3 irrigations, arranged in sub-plots. The obtained results can be summarized as follows: The highest values of water applied and water consumptive use were recorded under ( I1) .On the contrary, the lowest values were recorded under treatment,( I3 ).15th November as a sowing date significantly increased grain yield, straw yield, spike length, number of tiller, plant height and 1000 grain weight by 18.6, 17.4, 26.7, 17.8, 9.9 and 20.3 % compared to sowing on 15th December (D3). Also sowing on 15th November significantly increased water productivity by 27.2 %.