Response of barley plants to N and K fertilization under condition of salt affected soils [electronic resource].

Includes references.

The aim of the present study was to assess the response of barley plants (Hordum vulgare cv. Giza 123) to N and K fertilization under condition of saline non-sodic, non-saline sodic and saline sodic soils. Three soils were collected from El-Qalyoubia, Kafr El-Shikh, and EI¬ Sharkia Governorates, representing saline non sodic, non-saline sodic, and saline sodic soils, respectively. Two pot experiments were conducted; one for assessing N fertilization and the other for K fertilization. The design of each experiment was a randomized complete block - factorial involving two factors (N or K rate and soil) in three replicates. N and K rates were 0, 22.5, 45 and 90 kg N/fed. for N; and, 12, 24, and 48 kg K20/fed. for K. Pots of 6 kg capacity were used and packed with the soils. Barley plant was used as indicator plant. At maturity, plants were harvested and separated into grains and straw and analyzed for N, P, K, Na, Ca, Mg and CI. The obtained results could be summarized as follows: Application of N increased plant growth, with progressive magnitude as the rate increased; the increase was more pronounced in the saline non-sodic soil than in the non-saline sodic and the saline sodic soils. Straw yield increased with increasing N application. The main effect of N application showed increases in straw yield amounting to 12, 25 and 31 % at 22.5,45 and 90 kg N/fed, respectively. The rate of response differed according to soil condition.

Summary in Arabic.

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