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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2014, Vol. 13 Issue (9): 1889-1899    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60639-5
Physiology·Biochemistry·Cultivation·Tillage Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Interactive Effects of Silicon and Potassium Nitrate in Improving Salt Tolerance of Wheat
 Ahmad Bybordi
East Azerbaijan Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tabriz 53555-141, Iran
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摘要  Adequate regulation of mineral nutrients might be effective to ameliorate the deleterious effects of salts and help to sustain crop productivity, particularly in glycophytes, under salt stress. In this study, laboratory and greenhouse experiments were carried out at Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Centre in East Azerbaijan, Iran, to investigate the interactive effects of silicon and potassium nitrate in alleviating NaCl induced injuries in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In the laboratory experiment, three winter wheat cultivars Pishgam, Afagh and Alvand were grown on sterile filter paper moistened with 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mmol L-1 NaCl solution. Results revealed that wheat cultivars were significantly different in their growth response to different concentrations of NaCl and Pishgam was found to be the most tolerant to NaCl stress, and used in the second part of study. In the greenhouse experiment, Pishgam was grown in a hydroponic system subjected to different NaCl levels (20, 60 and 100 mmol L-1) and treated by silicon (0, 2 and 4 mmol L-1, final concentration in nutrient solution using K2SiO3) and potassium nitrate (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mmol L-1, foliar application). The experimental design was factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. It was found that NaCl stress significantly increased proline accumulation and sodium content in the plant tissues while decreased potassium uptake and accumulation by plants. Moreover, plant weight, 100-seed weight, relative water content, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis were also significantly affected by varying levels of NaCl. However, exogenous application of silicon and potassium nitrate reduced sodium uptake, increased potassium and consequently improved plant weight, 100-seed weight, seed yield, ear length, and photosynthesis rate. This study suggested that utilization of the salt-tolerant cultivar (Pishgam) combined with proper foliar application of potassium nitrate (2 mmol L-1) and silicon (4 mmol L-1) at the wheat booting stage might be a promising approach to obtain higher grain yield on saline lands.

Abstract  Adequate regulation of mineral nutrients might be effective to ameliorate the deleterious effects of salts and help to sustain crop productivity, particularly in glycophytes, under salt stress. In this study, laboratory and greenhouse experiments were carried out at Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Centre in East Azerbaijan, Iran, to investigate the interactive effects of silicon and potassium nitrate in alleviating NaCl induced injuries in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In the laboratory experiment, three winter wheat cultivars Pishgam, Afagh and Alvand were grown on sterile filter paper moistened with 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 mmol L-1 NaCl solution. Results revealed that wheat cultivars were significantly different in their growth response to different concentrations of NaCl and Pishgam was found to be the most tolerant to NaCl stress, and used in the second part of study. In the greenhouse experiment, Pishgam was grown in a hydroponic system subjected to different NaCl levels (20, 60 and 100 mmol L-1) and treated by silicon (0, 2 and 4 mmol L-1, final concentration in nutrient solution using K2SiO3) and potassium nitrate (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mmol L-1, foliar application). The experimental design was factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. It was found that NaCl stress significantly increased proline accumulation and sodium content in the plant tissues while decreased potassium uptake and accumulation by plants. Moreover, plant weight, 100-seed weight, relative water content, chlorophyll content, and photosynthesis were also significantly affected by varying levels of NaCl. However, exogenous application of silicon and potassium nitrate reduced sodium uptake, increased potassium and consequently improved plant weight, 100-seed weight, seed yield, ear length, and photosynthesis rate. This study suggested that utilization of the salt-tolerant cultivar (Pishgam) combined with proper foliar application of potassium nitrate (2 mmol L-1) and silicon (4 mmol L-1) at the wheat booting stage might be a promising approach to obtain higher grain yield on saline lands.
Keywords:  germination       grain yield       foliar application       photosynthesis       proline       relative water content  
Received: 02 July 2013   Accepted:
Fund: 

The research was carried out in the Framework of Project (4-35-10-92104) funded by Iranian Ministry of Jahade Agriculture, AREEO (Agricultural Extension, Education, and Research Organization).

Corresponding Authors:  Ahmad Bybordi, Tel: +98-412-2663914, E-mail: ahmad.bybordi@gmail.com, a.bybordi@areo.ir   
About author:  Ahmad Bybordi, Tel: +98-412-2663914, E-mail: ahmad.bybordi@gmail.com, a.bybordi@areo.ir

Cite this article: 

Ahmad Bybordi. 2014. Interactive Effects of Silicon and Potassium Nitrate in Improving Salt Tolerance of Wheat. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 13(9): 1889-1899.

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