Phosphorus Fertilization Enhances Productivity of Forage Corn (Zea mays L.) Irrigated with Saline Water

Abstract

Salinity is a major problem affecting crop production in many regions in the world including Morocco. Agricultural practices such as fertilization could be useful to overcome this problem and improve crop productivity. The objective of our study was to evaluate the combined effect of phosphorus fertilization and irrigation water salinity on growth, yield, and stomatal conductance of forage corn (Zea mays L.) cv. “Sy sincerro”. Field experiments were carried out for two years testing four levels of irrigation water salinity (ECw = 0.7; 2, 4, and 6 dS·m−1) and three rates of phosphorus (105, 126, and 150 kg P2O5·ha−1) fertilization conducted in a split-plot design with three replications. The obtained results show that irrigation water salinity had a negative effect on all monitored parameters. For instance, the dry matter yield reduced by an average of 19.3 and 25.1% compared to the control under saline irrigation with an EC value equal to 4 and 6 dS·m−1, respectively. The finding also showed that phosphorus applications tend to increase root weight, root length, stem length, leaf stomatal conductance, grain yield and dry matter yield under salinity conditions. For example, the addition of phosphorus with a rate of 126 and 150 kg P2O5·ha−1 respectively improved dry matter yield by an average of 4 and 9% under low salinity level (ECw = 2 dS·m−1), by 4 and 15% under medium salinity (4 dS·m−1), and by 6 and 8% under a high salinity level (6 dS·m−1). Our finding suggests that supplementary P application could be one of the best practices to reduce the adverse effects of high salinity on growth and development of forage corn.

Maximization of brackish water productivity for the sustainable production of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) and grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cultivated under an integrated aquaculture–agriculture system

“…Salinity not only disintegrates the chlorophyll structure and integrity but also denatures enzymes responsible for chlorophyll biosynthesis, hence leading to a decrease in chlorophyll content of leaves, growth, and yield (Mugwanya et al 2022 ; Nawaz et al 2022 ). Similar results have previously been reported in Oryza sativa L. (Hakim et al 2014 ; Kumar et al 2021 ), Triticum aestivum (Eroglu et al 2020 ; Adil et al 2022 ), Hordeum vulgare L. (Noreen et al 2021 ; Alharbi et al 2022 ), and Zea mays (Bouras et al 2021 ; Ali et al 2022 ).…”

How Does Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Respond to Phosphorus Fertilization and Irrigation Water Salinity?

“…They found that an increment in salinity level significantly reduced the shoot and the root dry weights of barley, while the P supply under saline conditions increased the plant dry weight and subsequently the plant resistance against salt stress. Phosphorus application mitigated the adverse effects of salinity on maize [42,43], mung bean [44], green bean [45], chickpea [46], wheat [47], and sugar beet [32]. Its application increased the yield by increasing the concentration and uptake of essential plant nutrients necessary for plant growth, improving the ratio of Ca/Na and K/Na, and decreasing the concentration of toxic ions (Na + and Cl − ) [48].…”

Optimization of macronutrients for improved grain yield of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild.) crop under semi-arid conditions of Morocco

“…Likewise, Tapia (1997) recommended the application of 60–80 kg ha −1 of P when annual precipitations exceeded 600 mm. Under saline conditions, P application at 60 and 70 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 has been found to minimize the salt stress effect and increase the yield by 29% and 51% at low salinity level (5 dS m −1 ) and by 13% and 8% at high salinity level (12 dS m −1 ) ( Bouras et al., 2021 ).…”