EFFECT OF SOME PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR AND WATER IRRIGATION QUALITY ON GROWTH AND QUALITY CHARACTERS OF WHEAT

Abstract

The experimental field was carried out at the experimental farm of the Department of Field Crops, College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad, Abu Ghraib during the winter of 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. The objective of the experiments was to study effect of plant growth regulator and irrigation water quality on some growth and quality characteristics of wheat (IPA 99 var.). Randomized complete block design with three replications was used for the experiment. The experiment had the treatments of plant growth regulator (Ethephon 0.600 kg.ha-1 and Cycocel 0.277 kg.ha-1) and irrigation water quality (drainage, well and river water) in addition the control treatment. The experiment was carried out by Nested arrangement. The results showed that of plant growth regulators caused significant effect on the characteristics studied. Ethephon reduced plant height (by percentage 12.7% and 15.5%) for both seasons, respectively, and increase tillers number. Cycocel increase flag leaf area by 26.2% and 8.5% for both seasons, respectively. In addition, Cycocel increased tillers number by 22.9% for the second season, respectively. The irrigation by drainage water caused significant increasing in flag leaf area, tillers number by 21.3% and 27.2% for the first season, respectively, while in the second season irrigation by drainage water caused significant decreasing in plant height, crop growth rate by 2.4% and 13.1% respectively. The interaction between Ethephon and drainage water significantly gave increase flag leaf area by 46.4% for the first season. In addition, the interaction between Ethephon and river water significantly increased tillers number by 71.3% for the first season.