Combined Effects of Water Stress and Salinity Stress on Yield Quantity and Quality of Grain Maize Varieties ksc-260

Abstract

Water shortages, particularly in arid and semi-arid areas have been threatening food security for millions of people. Considering that Iran is located in the arid and semi-arid zone, crop production is not possible without irrigation management. In areas where crops are irrigated, management and proper planning is necessary for optimal use of water. Response to the lack of water and plant species, length and duration of stress, age and developmental stage of the plant, and cells and plant and components of under cell depends on its structure (Bray., 1997). Salinity is one of the main stresses on the cultivation of plants. Salinity stress is an important limiting factor in agricultural systems, which causes difficulties in the process of growth and development of plants (Taiz and Zeiger., 1998). Deficit irrigation is an optimum solution to produce in water deficit (English. et al., 1990). Salinity has a significant effect on morphological, phonological, and physiological traits in most plants (Wang et al., 2003). The most obvious and clearest effect of salinity is the delay in plant growth. The objective of this research is to study combined effects of deficit stress and salinity stress on yield quantity and quality of maize (single cross 260) in the climatic conditions of Shahrood, which can be effective in the optimal use of saline and brackish water in the event of water constraints for corn production.

Keywords

• tensiometer
• depletion percentage of available soil moisture
• water use efficiency