Effect of Water Deficit and Soil Nitrogen on Dry Matter and Nitrogen Accumulation and Mobilization
in Durum Wheat under Semi-Arid Environment

Adel H. Abdel-Ghani , Saddam A. Al-Dalain , Saed J. Owais , Nedal Al-Majali , Doa Al-Majali and Farah Al-Nasir

Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2013

ABSTRACT

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 72.9%) 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.

Keywords: Durum Wheat, Nitrogen, Remobilization of Dry Matter, Remobilization of N, Water Deficit.