Response of four bread wheat genotypes to application methods of Zinc fertilizer

Abstract EN

The study was carried out in the field of Agriculture College, Duhok University in 2015-2016 growing season to study the growth and yield of four different wheat cultivars (Adana99, Iraq; locals, Zinzbar and Nigal; newly introduced cultivars) using different methods of fertilizers application; fluid seed treatment in ecoZinc, foliar ecoZinc (Black Rocks company, Turkey 0.01Zn), in addition to traditional NPK and control treatments under rain fed conditions of Duhok Governorate.

Randomized complete block design was used with four replications.

The results showed that Adana99 and Iraq surpassed new introduced cultivars in field emergence and plant height, while the new cultivars were superior in some of spike traits in addition to harvest index but inferior in 1000 grains weight which was the crucial characteristic for reducing the seed quality for these two cultivars as compared to the locals in spite of their superiority in final grain yield and above ground biomass.

Regarding fertilizers application, ecoZinc in both fluid and foliar ways were not significant on most of growth characteristics but the spike density enhanced significantly; seed yield was increased significantly (4.6 t.ha-1) in fluid seed treatment in ecoZinc.

The newly introduced wheat cultivars are not recommended under Duhok environment conditions due to their late in maturity which consequently effect final seed quality and quantity due to high temperatures at the end of the season