Effect of Organic Amendments and Nano-Zinc Foliar Application on Alleviation of Water Stress in Some Soil Properties and Water Productivity of Barley Yield

Abstract

The scarcity of water resources in arid and semi-arid areas is considered a threat to agricultural sustainability. Therefore, approaches are needed to rationalize use of irrigation water without reducing crop productivity or degrading soil properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different organic amendments (O1 = control, O2 = compost, and O3 = vermicompost) combined with different rates of nano- zinc foliar spraying (Zn1 = 0, Zn2 = 1 and Zn3 = 2 gm/L), under irrigation supplements (I1 = 100%, I2 = 85%, and I3 = 65% of water requirements) on clay soil characteristics, on the production of Egyptian barley Giza 126. Over two successive winter growing seasons, 2018/2019 and 2019/2020, field experiments were conducted as a split-split plot design with three replications. The results show that using vermicompost is an appropriate organic amendment to improve the physical and chemical properties of soils as compared with compost. Application of vermicompost led to a reduction in soil salinity (ECe), exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), and soil bulk density (BD), of −5.67%, −5.44%, and −2.21%, respectively; there was a significant increase in soil organic carbon (SOC), available nitrogen (A.N), and field capacity (F.C.), of 43.75%, 14.37%, and 18.65%, respectively, compared with unamended soil (O1). The maximum values for grain yield were increased by 13.2% and 14.9% in both seasons, respectively, and the irrigation water productivity of barley was increased more than compost and control. Vermicompost increased the irrigation water productivity for grain (1.69 and 1.69 kg grain m−3) and straw (1.23 and 1.17 kg straw m−3) in the first and second season, respectively. Similar trends were also observed from treatments on the water applied, stored water, and water application efficiency. Application of vermicompost and nano-Zn foliar spraying could be exploited for the development of barley growth and yield, which are enhanced under water-saving irrigation strategies.

Comprehensive Selection Criteria for Some Barley Genotypes under Different Water Stress Treatments

“…Results indicate that the highest values of WUE (1.84 kg grain/m 3 consumed water) and WP (1.15 kg grain/m 3 applied water) were recorded for Giza 138 genotype, while the lowest values of WUE (1.3 kg grain/m 3 consumed water) and WP (0.81 kg grain/m 3 applied water) were recorded for Giza 129 genotype. Results agree with [3]; [19] and [18]. SSR markers were used in this study to screen eight barley genotypes for water stress tolerance.…”

“…The strategy of government's plans for sustainable agricultural development and improving new land processes are dependent on saving water. The following themes are essential for agricultural development [3]. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major cereal crop that is well adapted to several a biotic stresses in dry areas, it was found to be moderately tolerant to drought stress, due to it is the limited amount of water that is available for irrigation [4] and [3].…”

“…The following themes are essential for agricultural development [3]. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major cereal crop that is well adapted to several a biotic stresses in dry areas, it was found to be moderately tolerant to drought stress, due to it is the limited amount of water that is available for irrigation [4] and [3]. In Egypt barley production is constrained by biotic and a biotic stress besides a lack of suitable genetic variability, therefore, the barley breeders need to increase the genetic variability through selecting new genotypes with high yield potential and more adaptability to climate change [5].…”

The Role of Grass Compost and Zea Mays in Alleviating Toxic Effects of Tetracycline on the Soil Bacteria Community

“…The enhanced activities of dehydrogenases and catalase upon grass compost application results most likely from the response of organotrophic bacteria, copiotrophic bacteria, and actinobacteria to the nutrient loads supplied to their communities. Compost application to soil provides microorganisms with easily available substrates, e.g., carbohydrates [ 98 , 99 , 100 ]. This is indicative of a feedback between bacterial community and activity of oxidoreductases, because these are the microorganisms that trigger the enhancement in the activity of dehydrogenases [ 100 , 101 ].…”