INFLUENCE OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION AND IRRIGATION NUMBER ON POTASSIUM UPTAKE AND YIELD OF TWO WHEAT CULTIVARS

Two field experiments were conducted in the experimentalFarm of Sids Agricultural Research Station, Agricultural ResearchCenter during two successiv seasons 2004/2005 and 2005/2006.Objective of this work was to investigate the response of two whatcultivars namely Sids 1 (bread wheat) and Beni Suef 1 (durm wheat)to potassium fertilization at the rates zero, 24, 48 and 72 kg K2O/fedand irrigation treatments includ six irrigations, five irrigations(withholding one irrigation at heading stage) and four irrigations(withholding two irrigations at boating and milking stages).Data obtained showed that Beni Suef 1 surpassed Sids 1varieties in grains and straw yields by about 5.3 and 6.2% in bothseasons, while both K concentration and uptake were not affected bywheat varieties.Increasing irrigation numbers and potassium fertilization levelsup to 72 kg K2O/fed significantly increased both grains and strawyields as well as K total uptake by grains and straw, however Kconcentration was not affected by irrigation treatmentsWhen one irrigation was omitted, wheat plants fertilized 72 kgK2O/fed gave grains and straw yields very closed to those thatwatered six irrigations and received 48 kg K2O/fed.