Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science

Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science

Effects of Different Levels of Salinity and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Physiological and Biochemical Characteristics of Two Salt Sensitive and Salt-Tolerant Wheat Cultivars

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Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of different levels of nitrogen (N) and salinity on biochemical mechanisms of two wheat genotypes. A field experiment was carried out in a three replicate RCBD split factorial experiment in salinity station of College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran in 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. Three levels of salt stress (1.3, 5, 10 dS/m) served as main plots and a combination of three levels of sulfate ammonium (50, 100, 150 kg N/ha) and 2 genotypes namely, Bam (resistance) and Toos (susceptible to salt stress) served as subplots. Results indicated that the effect of year on most characteristics was significant. Also under salinity stress, N application (100 and 150 kg N/ha) caused a significant effect on both genotypes with respect to biochemical and yield attributes [soluble proteins, SOD, CAT and APX activity]. Also the highest and the lowest MDA content was observed at 10 dS/m salinity level with 50 and 150 kg N/ha, respectively. The salt-tolerant and sensitive genotypes exhibited maximum value for physio-biochemical and yield attributes at 100 and 150 kg N/ha, respectively. These results suggest that application of N may improve most of the traits and is demonstrated to have physiological benefits and/or reduce the injurious effects of salt stress in wheat.
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