Effect of water deficit and soil nitrogen on dry matter and nitrogen accumulation and mobilization in durum wheat under semi-arid environment

Abstract EN

The effects of water deficit and nitrogen (N) application were evaluated on dry matter (DM) and N remobilization in eight durum wheat varieties.

Cham5, Cham3, Om Quis, Kayar Tunis and Hourani Nawawi had the highest DM remobilization under wetter environment ranging from 16.7 to 16.8 %, rising to 20.7 to 23.7 % in the drier environment.

Cham 5 and Cham 3 also showed higher N translocation to grains (values = 67.3 and 27.9 % under drier conditions.

N deficiency significantly (P < 0.05) increased N remobilization to grain in Deir Alla 6 and Hourani Nawawi; increasing N rate from 0 to 200 kg urea ha-1 decreased N remobilization from 40.8 to 20.8 % and from 40.3 to 32.3 % in Deir Alla 6 and Hourani Nawawi, respectively.

In conclusion, some varieties showed high capacity for DM and N translocation under unfavorable conditions and they could be considered as a potential source of genes for plant breeding.